Valkyrie/Walküre [2008]

     A group of senior German officers and some politicians conspired to assassinate Hitler and topple the Nazi regime. They recruited Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg [Tom Cruise] as the architect of the plan.

     Operation Valkyrie was an arrangement for Reserve Forces taking control of Berlin as soon as Fuhrer Hitler is assassinated. Col. Stauffenberg plants the bomb as planned and it blasts. Albeit Hitler survives, the message of his assignation is communicated though the telephone lines aren't clear, leading to a three hours delay in invoking the Valkyrie. A combination of bad luck, uncoordinated sequence of moves, delay and human errors fail to take control of Berlin.

     Amazing, how a well directed movie can make you bite your nails - even after 65 years – and anticipate an alternative ending, even when you know the outcome.

A must watch film. *****

Click here to watch the trailer

Gems in My Neighbourhood: Vish Dhamija

Yes gems, if you like books [and art]

The Bookshop on the Heath sells second-hand, used, out-of-print and rare books, but that's not all. You can find posters, prints, postcards, magazines, old maps, art, et al. in the store. A visit to the shop takes you down memory lane of a bygone era when Sean Connery was Bond, James Bond. Even in these days of the Internet, Amazon and Kindle, I strongly recommend every book lover to walk down Tranquil Vale in Blackheath and browse through this rustic store. The shop is owned and run by a couple, who are eager to help and extremely knowledgeable, without being intrusive. Yesterday's paperback bestsellers are at [almost] throwaway prices, but if you looking for some rare posters or literary work, it is not cheap anywhere.

The Bookshop on the Heath, 74 Tranquil Vale, Blackheath, London SE3 0BW

Halcyon Books primarily sells books. It's a much larger store - or at least that's the impression I got - with an enthusiastic staff that are passionate about books and not a bunch of jury-rigged teenagers. If you have a particular book or author in mind that you don't find in the store, they're happy to track it down for you if they can. Most of the books are priced to beat any recession. I have [twice] walked out with five [yes 5] paperbacks for a tenner. You can buy from them on Amazon, but if you ask me - don't bother. It's quite an experience being in the store.

Halcyon Books, 1 Greenwich South St., London SE10 8NW

Portugal Holiday [Aug 29 - Sep 4, 2009] - Vish Dhamija

Everything that could go wrong, did. The morning alarm didn't ring; we missed the train to the airport; forgot the navigator we had borrowed from a friend; dis-remembered to pack swimsuits and totally missed carrying the paper-part [why do we have one?] of the UK Driving Licence, without which Hertz had clearly stated that they wouldn't give us the car.
Still, it was a vacation like all vacations should be - an eclectic mix of a culturally rich, city experience and a few days at a seaside resort for relaxation. Lisbon is a beautiful city - cobbled, winding footpaths take you up and down after every few steps. The historic trams still adorn the city [and they work] and we took one up to the Castle, which provided fantastic views across the city and the Atlantic. There are abundant local cafes serving great coffee, cakes, snacks and sandwiches and have, thankfully, halted the onslaught of Starbucks. An evening and dinner in Bairro Alto is a must - the cafes and restaurant provide seating on the pavement turning it into a make-shift, albeit great alfresco dining feel. If you like Paella, do try ordering Arroz De Marisco - it's a Portuguese equivalent. Only better. There are ample bars and discs in the area, if you want to hang around after dinner.
The Jeronimos Monastry - resting place of Vasco da Gama - near Lisbon harbour, is a great place to visit and it's free entry on Sundays.
Mercifully, the Hertz staff was more interested in upgrading our car than ask us for the paper-part of the Driving Licence. With navigator left behind, we printed the directions and the drive down to Algarve was simple. The resort - Vale do Lobo - was far too posh for us: the palm trees, villas, golf courses, spa, tennis courts and whatnot. The resort had eleven restaurants, live band by the ocean, bars and a free circuit bus to take you around after you've had a few drinks [which is handy]. The only drawback in a posh place catering to tourists is - you get served Tobasco when you ask for piri-piri
Thanks to our friends - Helena, who's Portuguese and Donald, traveling to Portugal at the same time, we got to go to an exceptionally local small village at the edge of Algarve: Odecexie. The place wasn't overcrowded with foreign tourists and was absolutely breathtaking. The village-centre served local food, which was great.

We scouted Lisbon's streets again on return.
The cab from hotel to the airport was €8.60. Back in London, we tubed all the way from Heathrow to North Greenwich and took a cab for the shortest distance possible - £12.80. Uggrhh!

DNA of fiction: Vish Dhamija

One of my friends recently saw - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and we got chatting. She had the same argument I had initially - if Benjamin was born as an octogenarian infant, then he shouldn't have become a tot [physically] as he aged backwards.
Would that have made the story any more plausible? Maybe yes. Maybe not.
It's common belief that fact begets fiction. And although the belief is correct, I regard it as only half the truth.
Let me give you an analogy: Take fact as a highly promiscuous mother of fiction. Now wouldn't it be smart-alec to assume that every child she bears would grow up to resemble her? Let's complexify the problem further - would you still predict the same outcome if you're completely ignorant about the father? If the gene pool of the father is, even remotely, as rich and strong as JK Rowling's, then wouldn't it be ridiculous to expect the child [fiction] to take more than a tchotchke from the poor mother? On the other hand, if the gene pool of the father - like John Grisham - is fairly similar to the mother's, you can expect the child to closely resemble the mother [fact] - a tighter, predictable fiction, where everything fits the legal framework.
How implausible or unpredictable can fiction get - depends on the author; how implausible or farfetched should it get, does not have an answer. I guess, that is artistic licence all creative folks have.
People who do not appreciate promiscuity should read biographies and history, though I admit some of the biographies I've read are more whimsical than fiction. As for history - that isn't devoid of fantasies either.

Who the f*@k is Alice?

I might have vehemently denied it at all times in the past [I still do and forever will], but if truth be told I have some [a little] mutated gene of OCD. I prefer [read as written: prefer] my shirts in a certain order in the wardrobe - hung with hangers facing a particular side; the tracks in my iPod have to [have to, have to, have to] be in a cut & dried arrangement; the contacts in my iPhone are stored by first-names. No exceptions preferred [read as written: preferred; I didn't say unacceptable].
But the motif of this blog isn't about my preferences [sic]; it's not about me either; it's about the contacts in my iPhone.
The other day, I couldn't find a phone number of a friend in my contacts and was very annoyed [with self]. How could I not have a number I wanted while I had so many numbers I didn't need any more? I set myself a task to organise my contacts/iPhonebook at the earliest opportunity.
Today was the day - I sat with the Old Monk for iPhone spring cleaning, but got stuck at "A" itself...when I saw one of the contacts - 'Who the f*@k was Alice Johnson?*'
My mind took a while to find its way through the labyrinth - she was the business analyst when I was working on project X; what a fantastic time we had; what fun and learning...wonder where she would be now and if she ever thought about me? Will we ever meet again? I thought about giving her a call but stopped halfway after dialling - what if her phone number had changed [it's been five years]. And even if it hadn't, what would I say after I say hello? There wouldn't be much to talk [shy as I am] about. Why subject her and myself through a miserable [How's you x 17 times, with nothing else to say] conversation? I smiled and disconnected [Please note - she made me smile]. Nah - I couldn't delete her - we had such a good time.
I scrolled down and got stuck on another one [A. K.*]. I jogged my memory to ferret him out and it was a case of repeating decimal - the guy worked for me in Benetton and we had some great time together - again I didn't know where he was; the possibility [not probability] of his telephone number being the one listed in my diary [after 12 years] was contrary to any reason. I smiled as his name took me more than a decade back. I couldn't delete him...!
And then it dawned - your contact book isn't just that - it is a diary [full] of memories - memories that have been latent for some time; times you've enjoyed and forgotten not because they aren't worth remembering or cherishing today, but there's so much else going on in your life that the past inadvertently takes a back seat [it's like an old movie you've seen years ago - a month back, accidentally, while switching channels I saw Erich Segal's Love Story being screened and I didn't (read: couldn't) move for the next 90 minutes].
No, I could not erase those unuseful numbers from my contacts. It didn't matter if I won't need them anymore. I know I wouldn't call some of the people in my contacts ever - but I cannot erase them. I cannot black out the good [or bad] memories associated with those names.
Try your phonebook...it will make you smile. Or, maybe I am a sentimental fool.
*Names changed.

Have you seen my new black car?

'But surely, that's white...' you say.
'Really?' I ask.
'Of course. Are you colour blind?'
'Oh - didn't you know white is the new black, my friend?'

For generations, people never wanted to drive a white car. Why? Because it was meant for the not so well-to-do folks - remember the white van man?

'So why now?' you ask.
'Have you heard of ostentatious austerity?'
'What's that?'
'In times as grim as these, when economies are in recession, people like to be seen as parsimonious...'
'No way.'
'Believe me. Even Rolls Royce is launching a smaller [cheaper] version.'

Apple TV: You may say I'm a dreamer...

Apple TV - not in its current form where you connect it to your Samsung or Sony and watch a few downloaded movies or stream some. I mean an Apple TV in flesh and blood. But why, I hear? Why? Because after leading the sound revolution [iPod] and carrying the success to web interface [iPhone], it's high time someone came up with a new television rather than fiddling with screen sizes and thinness.

It amazes me that the brains at Samsungs and Sonys are still trying to fight a lost battle - creating mp3 players with a difference. The world is very happy with the iPod - no one wants another mp3 player guys - not even if you start giving it for free – okay I am exaggerating, but you get the point.

Remember Sony Walkman? It ruled the world; we had Hitachi, Toshiba, Philips and every electronic brand making them, but everyone wanted the Walkman. How did it die? As Al Ries said – a brand is locked into an idea in the mind. If that idea becomes obsolete, the brand becomes obsolete. Polaroid was instant photography, Xerox was copiers, Kodak was film photography and Walkman was portable cassette player. The audio cassette died when Compact Discs came along and the Walkman died soon after – the hearse took a while because of traffic in the developing markets. [CDs were exorbitant initially]

The only way the iPod domination can break is if an alternative media [like CDs to mp3] takes over from mp3 and someone else gets it right - first. It will need a paradigm shift in audio format to displace the iPod from its leadership, not another button on the mp3 player. Or maybe a prayer - that Apple goes into slumber, might help.

Coming back to my vision of Apple TV - it's a telly [not a surprise] and a super-speed, circa 2TB hard-drive Mac in one. And what does it do that others don't today? Well - the list is infinite but let me highlight a few:

Before we begin, you get your entire iTunes library on the Apple TV and synch your iPhone with it [using home Wi-Fi]. Now:

· Want to download and watch Godfather from iTunes? No cables required…press buy on iPhone and start
· Want to blast Rolling Stones on hi-fi? No amplifier or docking station required
· Want to check tomorrow's weather on the web? Don't need to squint your eyes on a small screen...sit back on the sofa with a wireless key board or iPhone and surf
· Want to check the detail design on that cocktail dress? Use multi-touch on iPhone to zoom
· Want to see pictures of your Morocco vacation? See and show them on the big screen
· Want to play pool? Download from application store; aim on the big screen, shoot on iPhone
· Want to have a audio conference? Dial on iPhone and the whole room of people can participate

Got it? You may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one. I can bet at least one wise guy - currently on sabbatical, must have already planned it. Not sure, how long it will be before he pulls out the ace. Watch this space.

The Suspicions of Mr Whicher: or the Murder at Road Hill House

On the morning of June 29th 1860, the Kent family woke up to find their 3 year old boy missing from the house...only to find his body in the privy outside. What intrigued everyone was that the house was found locked from inside therefore all the inmates became suspects – the father, the siblings, the servants...

The police were baffled; Jack Whicher, one of the most distinguished detectives of the time, arrived at Road Hill House* after two weeks and faced the horrible fact - to unravel the mystery for the mourning family where every one of them was a suspect.

From the open window of the drawing room...to the lost night-dress...to the blood stains...to the missing murder weapon, Whicher tried his best to reconstruct the scene but could find nothing more than circumstantial evidence...

It's a true story and the case is in the police files – it's even published on the MET police website – if you want to ruin it for yourself.

The book is a work of genius; a masterpiece – one can see [read] the amount of research and effort Kate Summerscale has put in to recreate the story. It is one of the best books I have read in the last few years. A must read.

*The village of Road is now spelt as Rode; the Road Hill house also changed its name to Langham House in 1870's

Adios Amigo: Vish Dhamija

It's not surprising that we start liking products, services and celebrities based on behaviours and likings of our peers, friends and colleagues – after all we spend considerable amount of time with them. What might stump you is that I picked up [sic] a liking for a particular celebrity [hereafter referred to as the celeb] only because one of my colleagues despised her.
It all started one day by two of us [another friend and me] – as we returned after a heated discussion on the celeb at lunch. We slyly planned that to have more loud discussions and interesting lunches [and also tease and annoy our friend] we should call me an ardent fan of the celeb –the rest is history. As new people joined the department, totally clueless of the little conspiracy, they were convinced that I was a die-hard fan and hence some of them actually brought me stickers and pictures of the celeb. Some of these are still pasted on the soft-board in my office.
Unfortunately, my celeb-hater friend is moving on [end of this month] and he will no longer be working with us in the same office. The left side of my brain tells me that I should pull down the pictures, as they carry no meaning after he's gone...there's no fun. Nostalgia might keep them there for a few days, but I guess it's time to move on.

Good luck RnB!

Watch me if you can: Vish Dhamija

Once upon a time, all watches were mechanical. Then in the late 60's, quartz movement came to the party and by the 80's, they took most of the watch market from the mechanical watch industry - we had pens that had a window with digital time display, then pagers, mobiles and now everything else tells us the time. A lot of people have eliminated watches from their wardrobe. Watches still tell the time but that's not all; they are pieces of jewellery. Here are two of those complicated jewels:

Giuliano Mazzuoli raced Alfa's in the 70's. Inspired by the cars, he designed the Contagiri watch that he's dedicated to Alfa Romeo, with the rev counter at the heart of this beautiful, yet simple watch. It's got an automatic mechanical movement with a 42 hours power reserve. What differentiates it from other watches is that, like a rev counter, there's only one arm [central hour hand retrogrades in an arc of 270°] that goes from 1 to 12 and jumps after that to return. The watch does not have a crown; instead, there's a gear-shift lever that you have to pull to make the bezel move to wind or set time.

Details:
Black dial; Luminescent one-hand, Diameter: 44 mm; Thickness: 13.3 mm; 29 Jewels; Launched in 2007
Price: From £13K

Franck Muller’s Crazy Hours is powered by a self-winding mechanical movement with a power reserve of 40 hours. At a mere glance, it appears that this tonneau-shaped watch has Arabic numerals [hour-markers] in random order. However, they are not; they have a defined arrangement. The chronology is maintained by skipping four numbers every hour to give you the perfect time.

Details:
Available in platinum or 18 carat gold case; 21 Jewels; Uncoordinated centred circular date indicator; Launched in 1986, with additions to the range.
Price: From £9K

I wonder which one is my wife saving money for?

Squirrels & Rats: Vish Dhamija

I wrote another synopsis of my book - as I found the last one too generic. Your opinion matters so tell me what you think - please leave a comment.

Mumbai, they say, is a city of dreams. More people dream there than in any other city in the world...and some dreams go awry.

Michael D'Cunha is called in to investigate a fire incident in the middle of the night at Mumbai's posh Worli Seaface apartment where the owner has died. He is convinced it is arson, not an accident - either for insurances or an adulterous relationship gone sour. But the only beneficiary is out of the country and the suspected other woman has more alibis than he can count. No one else seems to have any motive to finish the guy...

Who said joining the dots was ever easy?

An accidental death, a huge inheritance, an over suspicious police inspector and an inquiry that goes cold – a journey that starts in Mumbai, moves to London and continues.

Slumdog Millionaire: The jury is no longer out!

After all the nominations, awards, good and bad press and my own presupposed contentions, I finally watched the movie. There is not a dreary moment and it keeps the viewers gripped till the very end even though the outcome is known, which is the most meaningful yardstick for any movie or book.
Three things stand out: first - the story; I am not sure who deserves a bigger credit here - the author or the screenplay writer, but it's brilliant work. Second - director Danny Boyle gets full marks for capturing the essence of the tale, and the third – incredible performances by the three kids. For each of these three categories, it deserves all the awards. I am not sure about the rest though: AR Rahman has composed much better music than this; in fact the music does not even standout enough to be noticed in this movie.

I understand and appreciate that the poverty shown in the movie is intrinsic part of the story –a slumdog with no formal education wins a national quiz show - hence reminiscences from his past, entwined in abject poverty and crime, come to the rescue and provide answers to the questions asked. What I do not comprehend is why does the game-show host have to play such a negative role by repeatedly humiliating the contestant - Jamal. And it does not end at humiliation, but I won't spoil it for you here. [No wonder Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan declined the role].

To call it a feel good film is either naivety or a bad joke. The outcome of the game-show was known from the beginning so it does not bring in any cheerful surprise, but the cost of getting the childhood love back was not exactly upbeat, in my opinion.

On the whole, it’s an entertainer and the jury [numerous awards and nominations] has agreed many times over.

Click here for trailer:
Rating: *****

Seen three movies this month [so far]

Elegy: Not exactly my kind of film but I'm glad I saw it. If this was any ordinary film, I would have switched it off after twenty minutes. Ben Kingsley is rightly one of the best actors of our times and he proves it in every movie that he acts. [I guess it's the Indian gene in him]. Gorgeous Penelope Cruz stars with him as his student who gets into a romantic liaison with the professor – several years her senior. An ordinary story [or two intertwined with each other – I wouldn't take it away from you] but exceptional acting makes this film stand out. And, if like me, you are a Penelope fan, you will thank me forever. Click here for a trailer.

Rating: ****

Vicky Cristina Barcelona – I am not trying to stereotype but I always find Woody Allen's movies a bit incomplete. He leaves too much to the audience to imagine. This one is no different. An artist dating two tourist friends in Barcelona finds everything turned upside down when his ex-wife returns to stay with him. Javier Bardem, Scarlet Johansson and Penelope Cruz star in this movie. It's worth watching if you have nothing else to do on a flight [like me]. Click here for a trailer.

Rating: **

Momento [2000] – Leonard [Guy Pierce] is looking for the man who has raped and killed his wife. What makes it complex is that Leonard is suffering from a short-term memory loss and has to take Polaroid pictures, notes and tattoo his body to remind him of his objective. The movie is shot in reverse [coloured] and chronological [B&W] in set alternatives, giving the audience a feel of Leonard's condition. Fantastic story, brilliant acting and award-winning direction – it was nominated for 2 Oscars. I am told the movie is made in several languages, including Hindi [Ghajini]. Click here for a trailer.

Rating: *****