VERVE

Inception. Simplified: Vish Dhamija

2010-08-16T19:22:00.002+01:00

Like all sci-fis, to begin with, you need to accept that it's possible to steal information from Johnny when he is asleep and dreaming. If you accept dream-burglary, you only need to push the boundary a little to agree it's possible to seed a new idea into Johnny's mind, while he dreams. If you are, now, on the same plane and convinced it is possible, I can begin explaining Inception.

Rules of the game:

If you die in a dream, you wake up.

If you die in a dream within a dream, (II layer of dreaming, mind you) you can be left in a limbo for a lifetime.

Leonardo Dicaprio is tasked, by the baddie, to plant a wicked Inception in Johnny's mind. To ensure the implant happens correctly, and deep enough, the team (LD's team) decides to sedate Johnny and take him to the second layer of dreaming. According to the plan, Johnny is tranquilised on a 10 hour flight from Paris to LA (in dream arithmetic, 10 seconds = 1 hour and, somehow, 10 hour flight = 1 week, but please don't ask me why or how?)

As luck would have it (or to lengthen the movie/story), Johnny is versed with dream-invasions and his auto-defence kicks in, which in the movie is depicted as security personnel shooting bullets at the speed of Concorde. One of these, freely raining, bullets hits Johnny, hence, before he dies, and to prevent him from getting into a limbo, the team decides to take him to the III layer of dream (hold your breath it's a dream, within a dream, within a dream) and succeed in seeding the villainous idea.

If that's not enough, and it hasn't got your head spinning by now, Leonardo Dicaprio (who is accompanying Johnny in the III layer of dream) decides to go in layer IV (dream, within a dream.........within a dream) to settle an age old agony/dream.

Statistics in US reveal that the movie has attracted repetitive viewing by audience, as a lot of viewers went into a limbo.

Why am I not surprised?

Recommendation: Watch at your own risk. You might have to watch it second time :-)

Sugar and Spice - Vish Dhamija

2010-08-13T07:11:00.001+01:00

It's not sugar. And, it's not spice.

I call them sugar n' spice because the only flavours my tastebuds can discern remind me of how basic I am. My sense of gustation can, still, only recognise elementary tastes - sweet, bitter, sour, salty and spicy.

Macallan "Fine Oak" 10 year old (Speyside) is the one I am talking about here - smooth and complex. (it matures in Spanish Oak casks seasoned with sherry and American Oak casks seasoned with bourbon, amongst others) The aroma has hints of fruits, honey and vanilla, though my nose finds vanilla overpowering the other two, but that could be a personal thing. In any case, either or all of, these three fragrances conjure up memories of everything sweet. Hence, I call this one sugar.

Talisker 10 year old (Only single malt from Isle of Skye) is my spice. It tastes of sea-salt and has a peppery finish, which I love. Take a bite of strong blue cheese with a sip of this whisky and let the flavours mix in your mouth. Don't complain if you cannot stop after one.

Like all single malts, all you need is a good glass to enjoy it. No water. No rocks. No soda. No mixer.
A word of caution: please enjoy responsibly, :-)

JFK

2010-06-08T18:06:00.002+01:00

There's a conspiracy theory about everything - the Titanic never sank, Neil Armstrong never landed on the moon, Elvis Presley faked his own death, Michael Jackson isn't dead, Shakespeare was someone else - and someone put it aptly: "There is no conspiracy. It's good journalism."

JFK (released 1991) sheds light on one of United States' most enduring mysteries, the assassination of President John F Kennedy in 1963. Three years later, District Attorney Jim Garrison - played by Kevin Costner - finds too many coincidences, inaccuracies and conflicts in the investigation report (26 volumes) by Warren Commission. Interrogating several witnesses to the assassination, he and his team establish, beyond doubt, that Lee Harvey Oswald couldn't possibly have carried out the task single-handedly. Further investigation reveals that although all documents report three shots were fired, witnesses had heard up to six shots...

In the 1969 trial of Clay Shaw (one of the accused), Garrison provides more evidence that there were six shots fired and not as reported and that the single bullet could not have assassinated JFK and another person in the car. His theory is based on the fact that CIA got the president murdered and covered it up. Though Garrison lost the case, the end credits state that in 1979, someone (I have forgotten the name) testified under oath that Clay Shaw had been, once, a part-time agent of the CIA.

Whether you believe in the theory or not, it is an amazing movie. One of those movies, which - despite knowing the outcome - you end up biting the best part of your nails. A must watch (189 minutes)

*****

Queen of Crime: Agatha Christie by Vish Dhamija

2010-06-01T19:30:00.005+01:00

This bank holiday weekend in the English Riviera reminded me - as if I ever forgot - of Agatha Christie. Born in 1890 in Torquay (Devon) and, except for a few years, lived there for most of her life and wrote 80 crime novels, 19 plays, 6 romances (as Mary Westmacott), two books of poems, one of reminiscences and one autobiography.

Amongst others, she created two of the most famous characters in crime fiction - Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple - that live on, even to this day. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the "Queen of Crime" is the best selling author of any kind (along with William Shakespeare) and her work has been translated in over 100 languages. As an ardent reader of "whodunit" mysteries, I admit I am a fan and also marvel at her brilliance.

Having known some authors personally, I am aware that it takes more or less a year to finish a manuscript. Then it, obviously, needs editing, polishing, re-editing et al., before it is in any shape or form to be sent to an agent or publisher. Hence, even if you are not a fan of hers, or not impressed with her style of writing, you have to acknowledge her sheer genius to have come up with so many plots, and then put them on paper brilliantly. Good enough for 4 billion people to buy them, besides all the adaptations for films, television, theatre and comics. All this with no computers to work on, back in the day.

In September this year, there is the annual Agatha Christie Festival in Torquay (English Riviera) and it promises to be the best so far, as it coincides with her 120th birth anniversary.

Valkyrie/Walküre [2008]

2009-12-31T10:02:00.002Z

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

2009-10-24T10:56:00.002+01:00

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

2009-09-11T15:11:00.019+01:00

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

2009-07-22T19:39:00.009+01:00

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?

2009-07-17T23:15:00.011+01:00

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?

2009-05-21T19:10:00.007+01:00

'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...

2009-05-18T16:35:00.010+01:00

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

2009-03-26T09:18:00.009Z

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

2009-03-25T21:42:00.006Z

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

2009-02-19T11:19:00.014Z

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

2009-02-06T15:53:00.007Z

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!

2009-01-27T18:24:00.006Z

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]

2009-01-21T15:30:00.011Z

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: *****

More Free [good] iPhone Applications: Vish Dhamija

2008-12-02T11:50:00.008Z

Since my original blog of top 10 [free] iPhone applications, some good new ones have been released. Out of the ones I've downloaded, [Remember: I delete lots of them after trying] these 6 are great ones:

* Adrenaline Pool Lite: As close to the real thing as can be. You actually play with other players around the world by connecting to the server [through wi-fi or 3G]. Very addictive.

* My Rail Lite: Based on your location, it identifies the train stations close to you and gives you train timings/schedules and detailed routes. One can also search by station A-Z

* UK news Lite: categorised by All, Movies, Sports, Business & Technology. It also offers a choice of customising the news you want by saving/deleting news sources

* eBay: You can watch, buy, sell, search and check your eBay summary…

* EasyWriter: iPhone should have come with this pre-loaded. It is the landscape version of keyboard that makes typing much easier for eMails

* Fifteen: No wi-fi or 3G connection required for this childhood game

Squirrels & Rats - Synopsis

2008-10-19T10:25:00.011+01:00

A word of advice or a double bluff - whichever way you want to look at it; though most of the suspense novels have a mystery, they need not have one. It could well be that you know who did what and why, but the suspense might be in the manner it all unfolds for you.

Here is my impression of the cover and the synopsis of Squirrels and Rats:

Why should an accidental death of a financially successful wealth manager necessarily be treated as suspicious?

What if, the man in question is insured for an enormous amount? And, the inheritance that runs into a few million dollars has only one beneficiary, who is out of the country at the time of the accident.

What if, the witness to the will and insurances is an upcoming gorgeous model who is a common friend to the man and his wife?

What if, the financial whiz kid anticipated losses in his business that led him down the dire strait?

What if, it's only an accident?

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 to…

Can this case be closed?

Squirrels and Rats

2008-10-13T22:48:00.006+01:00

You might be wondering if I have abandoned the idea of writing as I haven't updated my blog for over a month now. Quite the opposite really. I have been writing continuously, though not on the blog.

I have had a plot for a fiction for quite some time now so I finally decided to write; the name of this post is actually the name of the novel - Squirrels and Rats; ambiguous enough to keep the audience guessing, which adds to the suspense in the book. The book is almost complete now [over 250 pages] and I am going through the draft to catch frivolous grammatical errors but I make no claims that I will be able to exterminate all, which leads to my next quest: search for an editor. And then I will face the plight that zillions of authors have; finding a literary agent to get the book published. Whatever the outcome might be, I confess that I enjoyed every moment of writing it and sincerely hope the readers like it too...

I will post the first chapter of the same after editing to see if it is even half as exciting as I think it is. [Although a few friends that have read some parts of it have given a positive feedback]

Along Came A Spider / Analyse This

2008-09-07T12:05:00.010+01:00

Saw these two fantastic films in the last couple of weeks.

Along Came A Spider: Morgan Freeman plays a forensic psychologist [Alex Cross] called in to investigate a kidnapping. The mystery unfolds when the kidnapper is shot dead by Alex...I wouldn't want to spoil the fun by telling any more here.

Great performance by Morgan [as always]. *****

Click here for a trailer

Analyse This: Robert De Niro plays a mafia don who suffers from anxiety at times that disables him to kill people. He needs a psychiatrist and finds Billy Crystal. What follows is a 24 hour duty for the psychiatrist. Hilarious.

Both Robert And Billy have given amazing performances. *****

Click here for a trailer

Top 10 Free iPhone Applications: Vish Dhamija

2008-08-20T21:50:00.005+01:00

In no particular order of preference/rating, here are the top 10 iPhone Applications I have downloaded [and tried]:

Ø Remote: Does exactly what it says – controls your iTunes library from iPhone using the wifi connection at home. It can also play Apple TV, but I haven’t tried it

Ø Fecebook: The mobile facebook – you can upload pictures, change status, check & compose messages and chat with friends

Ø Google search – I know there is Safari to surf the web, but search is much faster using Google

Ø New York Times – News on the go. Covers much more than just New York or America

Ø Top 40 – This cool application gives the weeks Top 40 music tracks [UK or US] – you can also hear a clip through iTunes and buy or watch it on Youtube

Ø Last.fm – the best internet music portal is available to download as an application – works brilliantly with wifi or GPRS

Ø Shazam – Heard a new song or tune? Next time it plays, switch Shazam on and it will recognize the track and album. You can also hear a clip through iTunes and buy or watch it on Youtube

Ø Showtimes – Using the Google maps to identify your location, this wonderful application shows the nearby cinemas and what's playing

Ø Localpicks – Again, based on your location, it tells you the nearby restaurants and their ratings

Ø Simplify – This application lets you access your entire iTunes library using wifi or GPRS anywhere. Unlike the remote, the music plays on the iPhone, not the computer. [I couldn't try this one fully before the burglar stole my Mac]

The Counterfeiters [2007]

2008-08-18T11:26:00.005+01:00

1936: From a concentration camp of the Nazis, came the biggest counterfeiting operation in history. They made British Pound notes that even fooled the Bank of England.

Salomon Sorowitsch – a master forger arrested before the war cooperated with the evil for survival while his camp-mate Adolf Burger sabotaged numerous attempts to forge the American dollar, delaying it by six weeks, which was crucial for the Nazis to fund the war…

A true story of a counterfeiting operation that was planned such that no one would ever know because the Jews who worked on it were to be killed later…

Adolf returned to Warsaw after the war and wrote a diary. He published his story and the movie received the Academy Award for best foreign film in 2008, which it deserves. The DVD is available with English subtitles and an interview with the real Adolf Burger.

Highly recommended. *****

Click here for a teaser

The magic of iPhone

2008-07-20T21:28:00.008+01:00

iPhone is incidentally also a phone – a point that most of the so called iPhone killers [iphoneys by other manufacturers] have missed. Creating a phone that looks cool is the easiest to copy and I admit some of the competitors have done it quite well. However, the magic of iPhone is in the software; the multi-touch screen rather than the touch screen that's been around for years now. Youtube and Google Maps work like a dream on the machine on wi-fi as you would expect on your computer – unlike my Nokia where only a handful of youtube flicks were available for WAP.

One of the big advantages of iPhone is that independent developers are making applications for it and loading it on to iTunes to deliver to individuals that want them.

I wouldn't be able to explain all the applications here but let's take a look at a couple that I downloaded for free:

Remote Control: Nine months ago, I blogged if only I could get my mobile phone to work as a remote control for all my music stored in my hard disc at home [through wi-fi]. One of the applications I downloaded does just that – through wi-fi via iTunes -your entire music library can sit on a Mac/PC and the iPhone can access it with all the jacket covers etc. to work as a remote. How cool is that? I have a feeling HE reads my blogs…don't you think so?

Last.fm: If you've already got an account on last.fm – download the application and it gives you access to the entire library and radio services. With wi-fi or GPRS [I have a bundled package of unlimited free web browsing from O2] – it connects to the website and you get a personalised radio…

It's got applications that link to movies database [Tomatoes] to give you reviews; find nearest restaurants and places of interest; mobile facebook, games…and Tomtom is making a software to turn your iPhone into a Sat-nav too…

Fracture [2007]

2008-07-03T09:46:00.009+01:00

I shot my wife…prove it.

I had seen the movie on the big screen last year and saw it again last night on Sky.

Anthony Hopkins [Ted] stars in the movie as a husband who shoots his wife after he finds out that she's having an affair with a police officer. When the police arrive, he quickly confesses the crime.

With a signed confession and the gun, the District Attorney - Willy [Ryan Gosling] believes he has an easy case to win, but…

Ted plays his own attorney and declares that the arresting officer was having an affair with his wife and hence he confessed [under pressure] at the scene of the crime. Moreover, his gun has not been used [in fact never been used] to fire and the bullets don't match. As the house has been under surveillance cameras from shooting till Ted's arrest, the police and DA are equally puzzled.

Ted is acquitted. Case is closed. Willy still searches for evidence but by the time he solves the mystery, it's a double jeopardy…

I shot my wife…prove it.

Excellent movie. Click here for a teaser.

Rating: *****

Here's to Bill Gates

2008-06-23T20:58:00.006+01:00

You might think I have jumped ship after being an Apple loyalist for years. No - this blog is not about Apple vs Microsoft.

William H Gates III co-founded Micro-soft in 1975 [the hyphen was dropped a year later] and shaped the way we use a PC today. He has been the world's richest man from 1995 to 2007 [briefly surpassed $101bn net worth in 1999]. This blog is not about his business empire or wealth either.

Bill [now 52] has made public that he will officially retire from Microsoft - his entire life's work, to pursue other interests on July 1, 2008. He's leaving behind a $60bn business to follow his heart. This blog is about his other interest.

Bill will solely focus on philanthropy. His Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation [formed in 2000] is focused on health care, education and removing extreme poverty. I have heard many business leaders talk about plans to give back to the society and the world but Bill has actually done it.

What a way to retire and give back to the world. Hat's off.

Game on...

2008-06-19T13:56:00.008+01:00

The players: Warren Buffett, the celebrity CEO of Berkshire Hathaway [he owns 38% of the shares] and Protégé Partners LLC, a New York based wealth management firm.

The bet is between Warren Buffett [not Berkshire] and Protégé [the firm, not its funds].

The bet: Over a period of 10 years [from Jan 1, 2008], Protégé has challenged that their 5 selected funds of hedge funds will outperform the S&P 500 after commissions [c2.5%], management fees [c23%] and expenses.

Warren Buffett has long advocated that the high fees charged by such funds far outweigh any additional earnings over S&P 500 growth [Remember: the investor does not get more than c75% of the accrued earnings - net of commissions and fees]. Protégé believes that their expertise in wealth management means that their selected funds bring better returns, even after the commissions and fees charged to the clients.

Each player has put $320,000 into a zero-coupon treasury bond for now. The winning, which will be in excess of $1m will go towards the charities already identified by the players.

What is in it for the players?
If all the winnings will go to charities – what is in it for the winner? For Warren Buffett – it's nothing more than proving a point he's promoted all his life – that no hedge fund can give better net returns than what the individual investor can invest and make. For Protégé – they've got more free publicity than they could ever imagine by going into this bet with Warren. If they win, they will be the golden boy of hedge funds. If they lose, the loss will not be entirely theirs – investors will look at all hedge funds with equal suspicion.

Who would you go with?
On one side we have Warren Buffett – the richest man in the world [self-made; net worth c$62b], who has made all his wealth by investments and is regarded as the top money manager of the 20th century. His Berkshire Hathaway [NYSE: BRK.B] owns 13% of American Express, 7% of The Coca Cola Company and 8% of Kraft Foods, to name a few.

On the other side is Protégé Partners LLC - a wealth management firm whose very existence depends on outperforming S&P 500 to give higher returns to their investors. They must have been exceptionally careful in selecting these 5 funds of hedge funds [only known to them and Warren Buffett].

The performance will be compared every year at the Berkshire Hathaway annual conference. The 10 year period irons out a lot of peaks and falls to bring realistic results, but we will have to wait till 2017 for the final winner.

For now, the game is on…and if history is any indicator, my money is on Mr Buffett. Who would you go with? Click comments [below] to leave your vote please.

How far would you go for love?

2008-06-17T23:15:00.007+01:00

Quite a coincidence that we watched this late night movie 'Wallis & Edward' and the next day The Times carried the print advertisement of Cartier with the tagline – "How far would you go for love?"

How far would you go for love?

Would you go into debt to buy an expensive ring for your loved one?
Would you give up your job and move to a different country for your loved one?
Would you sell your house to buy something grand for your loved one?
Would you give up the throne of one of the biggest empires in the history of the world for your loved one?

King Edward VIII did just that. He abdicated the British throne to marry Wallis in 1936. The movie is based on their love story. Was it politically motivated or would the people of the country have actually objected to his marriage is a matter of meaningless debate after 75 years. The man [no longer king] and his wife lived in exile [in France] for the rest of their lives...

A brilliant story and a well made movie.

There is also a book called The Heart Has Its Reasons - the Story of the Abdication by Wallis.

The last Land Rover...

2008-06-14T10:00:00.009+01:00

My new car arrived last week. I have never been a fan of SUV's [4x4's] but now that I know this might be my last Land Rover – it has become dear to me. I am surprised at its nimbleness - it drives and manoeuvres like a medium sized car and is not a gas guzzler like the previous one we had. I am extremely happy with all the technology they have put in. And, though I admit I might never use its off-road capabilities, it's still a very good on-road car to drive

Still in your mind....

2008-06-12T09:40:00.002+01:00

Not giving up…
No, still not giving up
I've seen this all before
I've been through this grind
Only to find
It's only in your mind

I am certain there are few more leaves…
…to complete the bind
So smile…
The race is only just begun and
For now…
Loss and victory are only in your mind

Oh yes, it's all in your mind
Still only in your mind…

iPhone Nano

2008-06-02T21:37:00.008+01:00

As the world gets ready for the Worldwide Developers Conference [June 9 -13], everyone expects at least one new product from Steve Jobs with his keynote address.

I would put my money on iPhone Nano...

PS: It may not look like I've sketched it. Or should I say - it WILL NOT look like this at all. Don't we know Steve by now?

Jazz tonight? Or, in the morning?

2008-06-01T21:36:00.005+01:00

From AM to FM to DAB - one would have thought the radio has come a long way already. Wait till you see the Blik digital WiFi RadioStation - it connects to your home broadband through WiFi and can tune into 9000 radio stations across the globe [from analogue to DAB to Internet radio]

And, that's not all. This neat device is capable of becoming speaker system for your iPod or stream music from PC or Mac. It also functions as an alarm clock so you can even wake up to some Smooth Jazz if you want.

All for under £150.

Obelisk by Dedon

2008-05-27T16:30:00.002+01:00

It's not the Gherkin. It's Obelisk by Dedon – the makers of outdoor furniture. Dissemble it and within minutes you have four comfortable seats and a table on your deck, garden or terrace. When the guests are gone, you can stack it up. And this is only one of the fabulous designs in their range.

The furniture is made from Dedon® synthetic fibre which is totally weatherproof, so you don't have to worry about lugging it back indoors every time the clouds come around, which is perfect for London.

Don't leave the cushions out though!

Cape Fear [1991]

2008-05-24T07:18:00.007+01:00

Another Martin Scorsese thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. An ex-convict [Robert De Niro] returns from prison after 14 years only to seek vengeance for his wrong imprisonment, because of betrayal by his own defence lawyer.

The psychopath stalks the lawyer [Nick Nolte], his wife [Jessica Lange] and daughter [Juliette Lewis] in this gripping tale of revenge. I must warn that the movie gets a bit dark and gory in places, but it is well worth it.

Robert De Niro and Juliette won Academy Award nominations for their performances in the film.

Rating: *****
Click here for a teaser

...still, only in your mind....

2008-05-23T20:46:00.006+01:00

All is not lost
Nothing is absolute for mankind
It never is; it never will be

Is HE watching; or is HE blind?
Or is HE also…
Only in your mind

It' gotta be you;
Only you can look for all the answers;
that no one else shall find
For
It's all in YOUR mind…

Music for your ears. And eyes...

2008-05-21T15:17:00.009+01:00

Whoever said that the best things in life are free, was having a laugh. The best things in life are not free; and they are not cheap either.

Bowers & Wilkins has been making speakers in England since 1966. Known for their quality of sound and unconventional designs, the company also supplies equipment for Jaguar cars [XKR & XF]. They have made a surprise foray into the iPod generation market [which has been growing faster than any other in the music business currently] with B&W Zeppelin.

Keeping to their tradition of beauty-meets-brawn, the oval shaped speaker [with iPod dock] could be mistaken for a piece of art. This speaker carries more punch than the Bose SounDock [from £299] or Apple's own iPod HiFi [£249] and is priced at £399 – I have seen and heard it play. Believe me - it is worth every penny.

Jewellery, for your ears...

2008-05-18T18:47:00.005+01:00

I have never been a fan of averages - which is a mistake most of the earphone manufacturers make; making earphones for average sized-ears.

Bang & Olufsen used a different approach - the result is A8 - one of the best earphones available in the market today. Each earphone in A8 has three moving parts to fit every ear perfectly - hence the sound is delivered directly into the ear canal. These are not advertised by B&O as noise cancelling, but they eliminate most of the unwanted ambient sound [as I write this listening to them, Nidhi is watching a movie on our surround sound and I cannot hear a thing]

The sound quality is brilliant and would satisfy even the discerning audiophile, I promise. The bass is better than any non-sealing earphone; so are the vocals. They give a whole new meaning to my iPod. I wonder what took me this long to discover them.

Coming to the beauty, I titled it accordingly. It is 'high-tech jewellery' as B&O calls it. And, at the the price they sell them, it sure is.

Design with technology...

2008-05-15T15:21:00.009+01:00

Honestly, I had not expected a design like this from LG - home cinema speakers in the shape of champagne flutes. They come in black piano finish and look absolutely gorgeous - if you have the space. [I was not much impressed with the subwoofer's looks, but that can always be tucked away out of sight]

This home cinema is full loaded - HD ready, 5.1 surround sound with 700W and a built in FM radio. What impresses me most is that the DVD player has a USB port - so if you have content on the computer, it can easily be watched on the telly through the DVD surround sound. Something I blogged about last year. Given that the capacity of the USB drives going up all the time, I am surprised why we don't have movie dispensers to pick up something after hours.

The specs are great and the reviews are excellent...all that in £499. If this was from B&O, it would most definitely set you back by a few grand.

Home Before Dark

2008-05-14T19:17:00.006+01:00

Neil Diamond: Not a very popular choice amongst most of my friends, but as it is said about him: "There are two types of people in the world: those who like Neil Diamond and those who don't".

Because, if you are fond of music, you cannot ignore a singer & songwriter who has sold 120 million records worldwide and has been around for last five decades [he wrote his first song at 15].

And, he is still going strong - he will be performing at the Glastonbury festival this year...he's released an album, earlier this month - Home Before Dark and if you fall in the first category of people [like I do], it's worth it's money. His unmistakable voice is still amazing at 67.

I am going for his upcoming concert in O2 on June 24th, 2008 and I am reasonably sure I will not see many known faces there...

Click here to listen to a track from his latest album: Pretty Amazing Grace

Wireless & Sich-like by F Austin Hyde

2008-05-08T18:55:00.012+01:00

1979 – a group of us were selected to act in a play for School's annual day - Wireless & sich-like. No one remembers how such an obscure play was chosen. Almost 30 years later – I found pictures and then searched for the play on the web. I came across a 1946 publication – Seven Modern Plays, which had this one too

The story is that the lead character, Geoffrey (played by yours truly) convinces his friends to play a prank on his grandpa [who says sich for such] that he has managed to make a wireless radio. They all team up, get under the covered table and wait for grandpa. Geoffrey then convinces his grandpa that it works. When he switches on the radio on the table, his friends below the table start to sing….but too many friends under a table for too long is not sustainable and the table cloth drops…

It was funny; it was entertaining. We all became recognisable faces in school – and got selected for other plays for the rest of school and college lives. Losing stage fright at an early age lead to shaping extrovert and confident personalities [at least in my case] for which I would always thank my teacher who selected me for Wireless & Sich-like.
Here's to you Sir. Here's to you Mr. RP Bhatnagar.

Cast: L to R:

Summet Singhal; Mukesh Keswani; Rana Nanda; Umar Iraqi; Anuj Mattoo; Rajat Ranjan; David Osmond; Mr. Rajendra Bhatnagar; Rajesh Joshi; Vish Dhamija; Atul Dubey

Letter to a friend...

2008-05-06T21:26:00.004+01:00

I had a friend (he's still a friend but has now moved from England) who, after a few pints, would always ask me - "What is life?; What does happiness mean?"

I wrote him an eMail today - here's an adapted extract of the same...

Matey,

Thought of you yesterday...as I think I have an answer to your [eternal] question - "what is life?" - I hit upon the answer by chance so here it is:

"Happiness is lying in grass [I was in Greenwich] on a sunny day with iPod playing Led Zeppelin in your ears".

Those 20 minutes I got on my own were peace and tranquility that one does not get when one tries hard to meditate in solitude. And I got it amidst a crowd of 5000 souls.

Life is nothing but a series of happy moments - spent with yourself [and your loved ones].
Everything else is a distraction towards capitalism. Those billboards will keep telling you to buy a bigger car always - they are meant to - isn't it?...

GoodFellas (1990)

2008-04-29T09:15:00.006+01:00

I have one word for it – CLASSIC. As previously stated on my blog – I love thrillers; and if you say it's based on a true story and it's about gangsters – I love them all the more. The movie is long (2 DVDs) but worth every minute. If you enjoyed The Godfather, this is in the same league.

It starts with Henry Hill (played by Ray Liotta) admitting, "As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster"

Robert DeNiro, Ray Liotto and Joe Pesci (who received an Oscar for best supporting actor in this film) star in this movie directed by Oscar winner - Martin Scorsese.

Rating: *****+

Click here for a teaser

Down memory lane....

2008-04-19T16:35:00.003+01:00

I saw this Vespa in Sainsbury's yesterday. It took me back 20 years when I had a similar scooter – almost identical model in cream colour. It also reminded me that a lot of my friends had a similar Vespa/Bajaj, which was the main mode of conveyance in our college days. I still remember the registration number of mine – RSZ 7701. I request you – if you come across this blog, to leave the registration number and colour of your scooty please…

CONfidence

2008-04-15T09:01:00.003+01:00

Saw another good gangster movie on Sunday – Confidence.

Jake is a grifter who unknowingly steals from a big fish – the King. When one of the friends involved is killed, Jake walks in to make peace with the King, only to be tasked with the biggest con of his life. With no other way to make good King's loss, he accepts…

Dustin Hoffman, Edward Burns & Rachel Weisz play the lead characters

Fantastic thriller

Rating: ****
Click here for teaser

21

2008-04-13T19:24:00.005+01:00

First of all, I am excited that we watched two movies in one night at the theatre. The first one was 21. Inspired by the book - Bringing down the house by Ben Mezrich, which is based on the true story of six MIT students who took Vegas for millions by counting cards.

An amazing book and the inspired movie was no less - though I admit, I am not sure if there was a reason why they couldn't make the movie based on (and not inspired by) the book. Good performances by Kevin Spacey & Jim Sturgess. A must watch movie...

The other movie of the evening; Krazzy 4 - the less said about it the better.

Rating ****

Click here for teaser

The Bank Job

2008-03-17T09:03:00.006Z

The movie is based on a real 1971 London bank robbery at Lloyds Bank, Baker Street, which was instigated by a few MI5 officials to recover compromising photographs of a certain female member of the Royal family. Like all operations, after the robbery, it goes out of control with the local police, the MI5, the corrupt police officials and local porn-club owner (a club ledger containing the corruption records of local police also goes missing from one of the lockers) looking for the culprits. The culprits soon realise that they have got more than just money…and understand the plot and involvement of one of their team members. They quickly turn it around to negotiate a 'no prosecution' agreement with MI5 and get the corrupt police officers & club owner arrested.

An estimated £4m went missing from the locker (more than the great train robbery) but a lot of people did not come forward to report their loss. Surprising?

An amazing film. A must watch.

*****

Click here for a teaser.

GM Diet: It really works...and I am not paid to write this!

2008-03-06T15:20:00.009Z

There are various theories of why it is called "GM Diet" - some say it was designed for executives of General Motors; some call it a"Genetically Modified" diet.

The truth is: IT WORKS.

Nidhi & I have tried it a few times now and it works everytime - though I admit the laws of dimnishing returns do come in. But, it actually gives you a kick-start to lose weight and you can always follow it up with excerise/healthy eating. It's a seven day diet program which goes as follows:
Day 1: You eat only fruits. As many you want, but no bananas
Day 2: You start with a medium size baked potato with a little butter. The rest of the day you can eat all the vegitables you want, but no potatoes
Day3: You can have all the fruits and vegitables you want with the exception of bananas and potatoes
Day4: You can have up to 8 bananas and 3 glasses of milk. You can supplement the same with a vegitable soup (no sugar please)
Day 5: Have some meat (e.g. sausages, steak, grilled chicken) and 8 tomatoes
Day 6: Have a feast - all the meat and vegitables, but no potatoes
Day 7: You can have brown rice and vegitables, but no potatoes

On all 7 days, have plenty of water (recommended: 8-10 glasses) and weight yourself on the 8th day.

Jodhaa Akbar

2008-03-01T22:25:00.003Z

How much can one falsify facts and still try to sell a story as a piece of (Indian) history? I am no historian, but it doesn't need one to see through the mega distortion of it in the movie and I am not talking about the controversy doing rounds in India about Jodha's real name. The garble extends even to the culture and customs of the time.

The movie fails on almost all accounts - weak storyline, mediocre acting, average direction and poor research (I am happy they got the name Akbar right). Full marks to the sets, locations, photography and costumes - if that can keep you awake for 223 minutes, go for it....zzz....

The Departed

2008-02-25T13:22:00.011Z

Two cops: One is a mafia rat in the police force, other's a police rat in the mafia. One helps the police to close-in and the other helps the mafia to get away... fantastic thriller.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin and Jack Nicholson star in this 2006 Academy Award winning movie.

*****

Click here for the teaser

Better late than never....

2008-01-31T10:58:00.001Z

I admit, I have discovered Andrea Bocelli almost a decade after he made it on the international scene. Hence, the clichéd title to this blog. Céline Dion introduced him to America with "If God had a singing voice, he would sound a lot like Andrea Bocelli." I couldn't have come up with a better introduction, even if I tried.

Most of his music is in Italian (Music doesn't have a language – apologies for another cliché) but he's done some in English. The music is brilliant and the voice - divine. So, to experience heaven in your living room, pour yourself a glass of red, put on Vivere and sink into your sofa…

Click here for a sound/video clip

Bobby Fischer (1943 - 2008)

2008-01-27T09:14:00.000Z

Robert (Bobby) Fischer - the greatest chess player of all times, died last week. He was a grandmaster at 15 and went on to win 20 consecutive championship level titles between 1968-71. He can truly be described as the eccentric genius, with chess being his sole passion in life - he had chess boards set up beside each bed in his Brooklyn house, ignoring everything outside to compete with himself. Never married, he did not do any other job but dedicate himself to the black and white board. He was the only American grandmaster but unfortunately after having played a game in Yugoslavia, he had to take asylum in Iceland, where he passed away.

Not known for his political correctness, he claimed most of the championship games were pre-arranged and went on to invent a new version - Fischer Random, where the back pieces are lined up by a computer generated program. I admit, I have never played this version, though I am a lilliputian-master in orthodox chess.

Car of the Year 2008

2008-01-24T14:43:00.001Z

I am sure everyone knows by now that the Fiat 500 has won the Car of the Year 2008. It isn't easy re-launching an icon – much less winning a prestigious award as this (Neither the new Beetle or Mini got one). But this blog is not about the car itself.

I requested a brochure which was promptly delivered. I am not exaggerating when I say that it is one of the most ''interactive'' pieces (of print) I have ever got my hands on. I have seen classier/glossier and more premium brochures and DM from the Cartier's and Jaguars, but never this interactive. It let's you play with the wheels, colour combinations, stickers etc… I am sure the cost of the piece is significantly higher than other similar product brochures, but it does its job brilliantly. It has prompted me to book myself for a test drive as soon as it is available in London.

And that is exactly any DM/brochure is designed to do – salesmanship in print. Whether I buy the car or not, depends on the product and service, not on the marketing piece.

Still in your mind....

2008-01-22T16:11:00.000Z

No worries; no sweat;
Yet

If the best did not last; the worst wouldn't either
You haven't won yet; you haven't lost either
You don't believe me
Yet

Kites fly against the wind
One day, when you look in the hind
You will repeat what I say
It's all in the mind

Oh yes…It's all in your mind
It was always, only in your mind...

OGX 874E: Vish Dhamija's MG Midget

2008-01-13T09:48:00.002Z

Yesterday was a good day - bright & sunny...so we picked up our Midget from Newgate and brought her home. Here are the pictures; I am sure you'll appreciate that she's quite photogenic...

She' now resting in the garage after the 40 miles run...

Morocco (Dec18 - 24, 2007)

2008-01-10T14:57:00.000Z

Being married for many years now – I am quite used to the idea of being told where we're going for a vacation. Don't take me wrong – I do get consulted sometimes – though my views can be vetoed as they were this time and we went to Morocco in December.

The BA flight was a stopover in Casablanca which came as a surprise to me and Nidhi (my wife) – had we known that, we would have spent a couple of days there. We reached Marrakech late in the evening – but it was a disappointment even in the dark. The dingy by lanes in the old Kasbah district looks like a poor man's Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi. Thankfully, we were booked in Riad Alma (http://www.riadalma.com/) – a family owned Riad which takes care of everything from airport pick-up to meals to restaurant bookings to tourist guide to personal tours to in-house spa… It was our oasis (literally) for which I cannot thank Pierre (owner of Riad Alma) enough.

We had a guided tour to the Souk. Ignoring all the warnings, Nidhi bought a woollen hand-woven runner (Kilim) after bargaining hard. (It now adorns our dining room)

Pierre arranged for a cab to drive us to Essaouira – which is a coastal town. A must, if you go to Morocco. We were booked in La Maison De Artists, which was sold to us as a sea-view room and which was the only good thing about it. The place has not been cleaned for years – avoid it at any cost. That aside, the town is simply beautiful and the people are perfect hosts. If you are fond of food, do not miss Le Mechouar. It serves some seriously good French food. The town is quite picturesque with ramparts over the Atlantic; coloured doors on shops & houses and coffee shops where one can sit and read for hours.

We were back in Marrakech after two days and decided to take the tour to the Atlas Mountains.

The return journey was a nightmare. The flight was delayed by 6 hours with no BA staff to manage the chaos. My luggage got lost and reached me after 3 days. I came back with a sore throat and needed rest (after the holiday)

I know where I am going for a vacation this year – I have already recommended NY to my dear wife. No more exotic places for me please.

Heat (1995)

2008-01-07T17:31:00.000Z

"Do not allow anything into your life which you cannot walk out on in thirty seconds flat if you spot the heat around the corner."

Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and the rest. One's a cop, one's a convict - outwitting each other.

Fantastic. Gripping - till the very end.

Rating: ****

Click here to see the trailer

Sholay producer GP Sippy dies...

2007-12-26T19:53:00.000Z

If one was to ask a 100 Indians to name one Bollywood film amongst the millions released in the last 80 years or so, one name will dominate the poll – Sholay.

The movie was released in 1975 – and no one knew then how big a legend was being born. Everything in the movie came together perfectly. It broke all previous records and in real terms no Bollywood movie has ever come close in over 30 years.

Numerous movies still have references to the characters, dialogues and scenes of the movie. I am one of the die-hard fans who has an original 1975 poster of the movie adorning a wall in my house.

I recently saw the re-make of Sholay - RGV Ki Aag. All I can hope is that GP Sippy did not see it. I sincerely request all Sholay fans to avoid the same at all costs.

Rating: *****+

Click here for teasers:
One
Two
Three

Finally (still fingers crossed...)

2007-12-25T08:38:00.000Z

I was a bit harsh on Allen Carr three months ago when I claimed that their therapy did not work. It certainly did - though it had a delayed reaction (on me). I did smoke for another day before I kicked the addiction in September.

It's been three months now and I have not smoked a single cigarette (or cigar or pipe or...). The fact that smoking has been totally banned in England in bars, pubs & restaurants helps.

On a recent trip to Morocco - I had everyone smoking around me in enclosed places (there is no smoking ban there), but I did not feel the need to light up at all.

I have succeeded, this time (I think). So for all those who really want to quit smoking, may I recommend the Allen Carr method. If it is not available in your country, please read the book. It helps.

10 years later....

2007-12-17T18:08:00.000Z

We owned our first classic car in Chennai, India. It was a Morris 8 (1948 model), but due to our move to Mumbai (then Bombay), we had to sell it in 1997.

10 years later, we will soon be owners of the blue MG Midget (1967 model). We will be getting the delivery of the car after Christmas... I will post more pictures once we get it home in London...

Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement Speech 2005

2007-12-10T22:44:00.001Z

Amazing speech...

...and the Oscar for the best orginal script of 2007 goes to...

2007-12-09T08:25:00.000Z

..The Darwin Conspiracy.

If I had read this in a fiction, I would not shunned it as too imaginative.

"March 2002: A man vanished in the sea and his canoe was found after weeks of police search. As the body wasn't found an inquest declared him dead in 2003. His wife claimed insurance.

Nov 2007: The man (John Darwin) walked into a London police station and says: "I think I am a missing person" and claimed he does not remember anything after a family holiday since 2000 (A case of complete amnesia!) The police contacted his family, only to find that his wife (Anne) had sold off all their UK properties just 6 weeks back and emigrated to Panama.

As the story unfolded, the police discovered the whole fraud. It was planned from the very beginning - the vanishing, the insurance claims, the move to Panama....

Mr Darwin has been charged, while Mrs Darwin is still not back from Panama (she is selling her story to every tabloid in town before she gets arrested)

I am still not convinced that the story is complete...there is definitely more to it. Let's wait for Anne Darwin's arrest.

Click here for teaser
Script: **********

Does someone care what the consumer wants?

2007-12-06T19:01:00.000Z

I own a Nokia N95 mobile phone, which is the the most technologically advanced phone I've ever had. It's a phone, a computer with wifi, a mp3 player, a 5mp camera with flash with a a memory card (available up to 8GB today).

As I mentioned in one of my blogs, I have a wifi network set up at home and I wanted my N95 to connect to the wifi network and access the hard drive (containing all my music files). But it would not access the external hard drive for some reason - either the two platforms are different or N95 does not behave like a host. Imagine if I could access my music library through my phone - my N95 would become a remote control for the whole music at home (see Picture)

May be I am imagining - but isn't it what every consumer would want?

Om Shanti Om

2007-12-02T12:22:00.000Z

A wicked spoof on 70's Bollywood. To fully appreciate, you should have seen Bollywood movies of the 70's or you will not catch the satire. It has every possible masala you can imagine in a movie - romance, song & dance, reincarnation, action, comedy...

Shah Rukh Khan has done an amazing job. So has the newcomer Deepika.

Hat's off - making a spoof is easy, but to make it the biggest earner for Bollywood (of all times) is another thing.

Can I see it again? Of course, I WILL see it again...

*****

Click here for teaser

Flightplan

2007-11-30T19:19:00.001Z

Saw it on Sky again... a 2005 thriller with Jodie Foster.

Imagine flying from Berlin to New York with your six year old daughter and your husband's coffin. When you wake up 2-3 hours into the flight, you find your daughter missing. An initial search fails. The pilot (Sean Bean) is called in to ask for a thorough search. The little girl cannot be found.
Add to it that you cannot find your daughter's boarding card in your jacket's pocket, you've been on calming-medicines, none of the fellow passengers remember having seen your daughter aboard, the flight attendant says she did not see anyone next to you before the flight took off....and when they call up the security gates back at Berlin, it is confirmed that nobody by your daughter's name ever boarded the flight.

Are you imagining things or has the whole world suddenly turned against you? How can a six year old disappear from the flight?

Excellent plot, brilliantly shot and Jodie Foster. Any more incentives required to watch?

*****
Click here for the teaser

Blood Diamond

2007-11-28T21:37:00.002Z

A gory tale of how the diamonds from Africa travel to Tiffany's, De Beers and other stores in Europe and US. They change several hands, take a few lives before adorning the fingers in the developed world.

A well told story – built on harsh realities (by no means a real story). Leonardo DiCaprio has acted brilliantly – He was nominated for the Best Actor Academy award for this movie. Worth watching.

****

Click here for teaser

It's (still) in the mind...

2007-11-27T17:13:00.001Z

Even if you lost everything
Everything you ever dreamt of
But if that little hope is still alive;
Consider life as very kind

Episodic misses will come and go
Let them not turn you blind
To the larger canvas of life
They aren't absolute as you shall find
None of the loses are worth the pain
As victory isn't far behind…

Oh yes…It's all in your mind

It was always, only in your mind

Home Wifi Network

2007-11-27T17:10:00.000Z

I am quite impressed with myself. Over the weekend I built a wifi network at home. How does it all work? (See attached picture)

– Buy an Apple Airport Express

– Cable it to your BT Broadband Modem

– Connect printer and/or hard drive to the Airport Extreme

– Change your Mac settings to connect (via wifi) to the Airport Extreme for broadband access rather than BT.

Now you can access broadband, the external hard drive and printer wirelessly all over your house.

In my case the 500GB hard drive contains all my music, data and pictures – thereby releasing space on my iBook…and I can access iTunes or iPhoto

The new car...

2007-11-16T22:44:00.000Z

I remember when my parents bought the first B&W television - it had three control buttons:
Switch on/off/volume, brightness & contrast.

I recently bought a Denon 7.1 channel AV amplifier. It has separate buttons to switch on and off. It has more buttons than I will ever use (or any normal non-geek will). I fully understand that the device is multifunctional but it does not have to compromise simplicity.

iPod wasn't the best portable mp3 player in the world - it was designed with a normal consumer in mind. Nokia is the market leader because it has not changed its user interface since the early nineties - That explains the millions of people who never buy any other phone.

I picked up my new car today. Without getting into the details of the make and model, I must confess that I ordered the highest spec series with the infotainment, SatNav, Adaptive Cruise Control et al. When I couldn't get things to work (they weren't intuitive), I reached for the user manual - it runs into 1200 pages and could be one of the electives in a management programme. I don't know where to begin and how to make everything (or anything) work. I guess that is why God created weekends.

Blow

2007-11-03T16:19:00.000Z

Though I had seen this movie a while ago, I thought it was good to write about it. As I am planning to read my own blogs when I retire - it would be useful to have a record of what movies I would want to see again...

Blow (starring Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz) is based on real life story of George Jung who commercialised cocaine in America in the 1970's. His operations were large scale enough to hire planes and professional pilots to bring in "stuff" from across the border. But all the money he made did not change one finality - it was illegal and the law eventually caught up with him. George is still in the prison and will be released in 2014.

*****+ This is probably Johnny Depp's best performance till date. A must-watch movie - a classic of our times.

Click here to see the teaser

All the technology....

2007-11-02T20:01:00.001Z

Late last Friday night my wife and I decided to stay-in and watch a movie. After scrolling through all the Sky channels, we figured out that there wasn't anything worth seeing that we hadn't already seen. We browsed through our DVD collection – nothing worthwhile there too. The closet Blockbuster would have closed an hour ago. We've all heard about downloading movies so I thought I'd give it a try. The unlicensed P2P (Kazaa, Limeware) are hardly worth because of wrong cataloging, copyright laws, virus etc. and it can take a few hours for a movie to download (if you're lucky) and the iTunes store has limited titles.

So all the technology in the world could not help us get us a movie to watch. Shame.

I have heard of rental movies being delivered by post (www.lovefilm.com) but that needs advance planning too. I am not entirely sure if someone has looked into a way of delivering movies to consumers at the last minute.

How about a "hole in the wall" movie delivery system? There is no reason why movies have to be on DVDs. The movies can be recorded in excellent quality on SD/flash cards, which can be easily dispensed from the local movie points (just as cash points).

Someone from the industry needs to convince all television manufacturers to provide a memory card slot and reader in the televisions and presto – you've got what a consumer wants. Maybe someone is already working on the idea.

Apple, Sony – are you listening?

Inside Man

2007-10-29T21:32:00.000Z

My wife & I picked up a great movie on Saturday...

Let me admit - I am a sucker for thrillers.

Four armed men take hostages in a bank in NY. As the police arrives and negotiations start, it seems like the captors are in no rush to escape. As the drama unfolds and the police bust the building - they cannot tell the hostages from the captors. What's more - there is no real robbery and no one can be convicted. Until, of course...

***** Must watch. Denzel & Clive are fantastic. Jodie Foster is amazing as usual...(I am biased towards Jodie Foster, though this is not a career defining role for her)

Click here to see the teaser

At last....

2007-10-07T20:18:00.000+01:00

The Nobel Foundation has officially regretted not giving the Nobel Prize to Mahatma Gandhi, saying there was none more "stark omission than this."

Gandhi was nominated 5 times for the prize - the last time was a few days before his assassination.

One of the reasons given is that the father of non-violence was neither a "real politician, nor a humanitarian relief worker" It is amazing that people who followed his non-violence teachings were awarded Nobel Prizes in later years, but the Mahatma himself did not get it.

I am sure Gandhi would have never regretted not getting the award - that is precisely why he's called the "mahatma" - he wasn't in it for the awards, the accolades and the applauses. like you and me. I am reasonably confident that he would have declined any award given to him for what he thought was his "duty" to his motherland.

What surprises me is that it took the Foundation 60 years (after the death of Gandhi) to realise the mistake.

News: Co-op has overtaken Tesco...

2007-10-03T20:18:00.001+01:00

On our recent drive on the motorway, we saw something unusual - Co-op overtaking Tesco easily. I thought it was worth letting everyone know....

iPhone

2007-10-01T20:07:00.000+01:00

Saturday - we were invited to one of my wife's work colleague's leaving do for lunch. The family (American) was moving back home and were obviously happy. In their various travels to US, the guy had picked up Apple iPhone - which became the star of the party. Once it was out of his pocket - that's it - there was no going back - every person (we were at least 20 of us) wanted to have a go at it.

It's a masterpiece. The touch screen is very intuitive. As can be said for most Apple products - it is far ahead of the competition.

It's getting launched in UK on the 9th of November for £299 and a 18 month contract with O2. As for me, I am saving for my Frogeye.

Changing priorities...

2007-09-23T17:35:00.001+01:00

After a few years of wanting to buy a MG Midget (Pre-1972), I have changed my mind...my priorities have shifted to Austin-Healey Sprite Mk I (Frogeye/Bugeye in US). It is the predecessor of Austin-Healey Mk III, which was the same as Midget that I wanted (with a different badge).

Reason: Quite simply, I find the form even more fascinating with the headlights mounted on the bonnet, the smiley grill and the dash colour-matched with the interiors.

Implications: I will have to wait longer to save to buy one.

It's all in your mind

2007-09-23T17:24:00.000+01:00

The good and bad times
The happy and sad times
Did you say you have to rewind?
No…no…It's all in the mind

Get up in the morning
Get back late from work
You think you're going through the big grind?
No…no…It's all in the mind

You only look for the summer
While endless birds look for the fall
Oh yes, they long to make their nests
And wait for the trees to rind

Keep on moving, that's the way with the world
Never have time to look what's left behind

Sometimes just let go what's over
It was meant to be one of a kind

Oh yes…It's all in your mind

We don’t loose, we don't win
It's all a passing phase
After the wars are over
Beneath the glorious victories
What could anyone ever find?

Oh yes…It's all in your mind
It was always, only in your mind