The King is Back with a racier chase....Don 2 entertains!

A movie-viewing experience for me has most certainly got to do with being entertained than sitting and dissect each frame! This is the very reason for me to keep reiterating that I am no "critic" but an audience who wants to have a fun time at the movies.

I recently caught the movie of one of the craziest superstars of the generation - the baadshah of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan! You love him, you hate him, but Don ko ignore karna mushkil hi nahi, namumkin hai! It is impossible to ignore the fact that even though he is slightly pompous and egoistic, he is one of the most successful, intelligent and self-made superstars! The most loved villain, Don, is back in a leaner and meaner avtaar, promising lots of style, action and entertainment!

The story of Don 2 takes off from where Don ended and travels across Malaysia, Switzerland and Germany and builds with a newer characters waiting to be bashed by the brash Don. With his uber luxe style, slick action sequences and cheeky dialogue delivery, SRK (except for his cocky walk) practically carries the movie on his shoulders, as most characters including Priyanka Chopra, Boman Irani or Kunal Kapoor just about make their presence felt. But when it is a Shah Rukh Khan movie, it ought to be all about him, right?! What is however very contradictory is the fact that Don in the first part says, "Yeh romatic baatein mujhe badi boring lagti hain" and goes on to romance the tough Roma (Priyanka Chopra) in the sequel!

While Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy barely strike the musical chord, the Maya-song in Usha Uthup's signature style definitely lingers in the mind! As Farhan Akhtar shines with his stylish Ocean's Eleven meets James Bond-style slick direction and some memorable Don-isms, Jason West takes the audience on a picturesque journey with his cinematography while Anand Subaya's editing is crisp. All in all, 2011 culminates with a racier, wittier and naughtier entertainer. Hail the arrogant, suave, cool anti-hero! Don 2 is a complete paisa-vasool film!

A lot of critics have simply not ceased their "bash-SRK-at-every-occasion" remarks. I am only amused by this attitude for some reason. An unapologetic Shah Rukh Khan has always done what he felt is right and never failed to entertain albeit huge risks with projects like Asoka, Paheli, Billu or the latest mammoth venture RaOne. At least he isn't riding on the effortless success-formula of remaking massive south Indian hits in Hindi! Let us give the man some credit for daring to change the norms of film-making by bringing in VFX, creating state-of-the-art studios and churning one entertainer after another for those who spend a few hundreds to walk into a multiplex with a hope of being thoroughly entertained! 

As for the critics-if you want to scrutinize every shot and frame of every possible movie, a host of Film Festivals are round the corner....satiate the urge to closely study the movie-making process and let the common viewer enjoy all the naach-gaana and action on screen!

As I walk out of the multiplex, I am all charged up and inspired (by the man himself) to bare my heart out and let my thoughts flow on one of the most entertaining slick-flicks and one of the wackiest, wittiest, eccentric yet charming entertainers! 

I end my 2011 movie-watching experience on a high...total bollywood ishtyle! And after the mean machine, I wouldn't mind a fresh dose of the eternal romantic Raj in 2012!

Reviving Block printing....

Book Shelf - a young girl's enthusiasm to popularize the habit of reading!

Unsophisticated, real, rustic... Deool, the Peepli of the Marathi manoos!

There are movies that can make you laugh, cry or simply entertain, and then there are those that can touch your heart even before you know it! I was struck by one such experience from the word go, and this time, by a Marathi movie, thereby urging me to pen my thoughts. I have to admit that Marathi cinema has, in recent times, matured leaps and bound with masterpieces like Harishchandrachi Factory, Valu, Bal Gandharva, to name a few, that have appealed to both critics and masses alike.

Before I go any further, I have to confess... I am no professional film critic, I simply believe in experiencing the movie and being entertained with what I see on the screen. Which means, you are not going to read the story, plot or such details. You will read, from an eyes of an "audience", the experience, the learning, the thoughts that raced my mind as I sat there for a couple of hours. It is only apt that one spends that time watching a movie and living the story than listening to it from a third person! The movie in question is Deool (Temple).

As the lights went dim, the screen lit up with an enchanting piece of sand art....two hands running through sand to create innate and picturesque designs as the film credits rolled. I was certain that the next two and a half hours would most definitely be promising and intriguing. And boy, I wasn't disappointed one bit!

The movie talks about a superficial transformation and "development" of a remote village in Maharashtra called Mangrul, portraying the shallow ideologies of the characters, which in more than many ways represent "each one of us" - our fears and one-dimensional perceptions, and the dwindling rural fabric and roots.

With stalwarts like Nana Patekar, Dilip Prabhavalkar, Sonali Kulkarni along with a stellar performance of writer-actor Girish Kulkarni, the film argues on the real definition of development, while skilfully representing both positives and negatives with balance. A fitting location, life-like situations, perfectly etched out characters, raw humour and satire, take the movie and the viewer to an altogether different level! It can easily get our mind to think and our heart to cringe.

With a backdrop of faith versus blind-faith and commercialisation of religion in the guise of progress and development, care has been taken that the it does not sound preachy and the viewer is thoroughly entertained!

In many ways, Deool is a representation of 'Peepli'-like circumstances and the audience is left with the task of picking between the right and the wrong. All in all, entertaining, eye-opening and overwhelming in many ways!

Those little lessons in the journey called life....

I first took to writing to exercise my grey cells, then moved on to loving the written word, further, understanding the power of the written word to graduating to the need to express my thoughts and slowly moving to documenting all experiences, good and bad to fall back on in times of need.... Today, after a few years of amateur and professional scribbles, I realised the importance of the written word again - it was a day when I came face to face with reality once again! A day when the least expected things happened to me and when I ended up depending on a shoulder to rest my head on, an ear to listen to me venting and words that could comfort my soul.

That's when I also realised that only you can be the true judge of what you've experienced and only you can get out of the so called "miseries" in life.... It only depends on the urge, the will, the faith in your own self and a lot of positiveness! While some of the most wonderful friends have always stood by me through thick and thin, there was one other thing that restored my faith...myself! Over a period of time, I randomly penned a few lines here and there, based on what I have experienced, felt or simply thoughts that have crossed my mind or words that have crossed my eyes.

It was these words that gave me the strength to believe in myself again, put some uncalled for experiences behind me and look ahead with revived faith and goodness... I then felt the urge to document these lines and keep adding on my experiences so that next time I'm stuck in a rut and out of sanity, these lines could act as a guiding light, help me compose myself, or simply something that could bring a smile on my face. Here are a few lines that I've been able to pull out from the little experiences and incidents that I have come across... Try listing down your's and you never know when and how it may help you!

• "Peace of mind has reached the status of the likes of Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, Versace... It is now ASPIRATIONAL, EXCLUSIVE, CUSTOM MADE, HARD TO ACHIEVE for a commoner!!" - and the response to this.... "Peace of mind is just a perception. The fact that, spontaneity is the soul of perception, explains, why it is so difficult to achieve !"

• "An hour long meditation, soulful music and chants transcended me to a higher world.... attained a feeling of inner peace and happiness" - Sometimes the time spent with your own self can bring you to a state of peace and calmness.... It is just a game of the state of mind!

• "We stand on the eve of the 64th Indian Independence Day- we celebrate freedom... Freedom to terrorise, freedom to live, breathe, eat corruption, freedom to suffer from illiteracy, abuse, fear, caste politics... 64 years of free India!! 64 years of free In(human)dians!!"

• "Nothing in life comes free of cost.... Strangely, however, pain of every kind is like the freebie and amazingly never goes out of stock... Guess its all a game of balance!"

• "For most people these days, to understand things in order to argue about them is no longer a necessity.... And I am not amazed!!!"

• "It is funny how day by day nothing changes, and one fine day when you look back, EVERYTHING'S DIFFERENT!!!"

• "Stumbled upon old pics reminding me of fun, frolic and everything blissfully carefree! Growing up to remain sane, I realised, is quite a task... Innocence and the good 'ol times may not come back, but beautiful memories shall live forever in my heart.... How I wish growing up was directly proportional to all those wonderful things that now remain only fond memories!"

• "Some of the smallest incidents in life are like those little surprise tests that we faced in school... We are caught off guard, we can't cheat and there is at least one important lesson it leaves us with to prepare us for the best and worst in life!!"

• "The usually dead, dark street was suddenly lit up with street hawkers selling lanterns... Colourful, intricate, simple, bright, bold...all kinds, but one underlying message-the festival of lights is around the corner-a sign of hope, of prosperity, of good triumphing over bad, of new beginnings... That's when I realised I had 2 choices - either turning a page in life or closing the book - today I chose the latter to make a bright, colourful start.... A Diwali in the truest sense...."

Panash, the new Pan Asian Restaurant

Sushi Platter

Food lovers in Pune have a new reason to rejoice… Those with a penchant for Pan-Asian cuisine can now dine and relish a palatable spread with panache…quite literally! The Four Points by Sheraton, Pune recently opened their doors to Panash – the new Pan Asian restaurant. Located on the first floor of the hotel, Panash is a 68-seater restaurant with an 8-seater private dining room, with a creative and contemporary décor.

With a unique approach to cooking, presentation and a variety of cuisines on the menu, Panash promises to be a refreshingly unconventional place to be. The restaurant predominantly caters to a wide variety of South East Asian and Japanese cuisines, along with an eclectic mix of Malaysian, Thai and Singaporean delicacies. With careful emphasis on authentic flavours and recipes, complemented by simple presentations, Panash opts for healthier methods of preparation.

Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls

An interesting observation at the restaurant is an equal, if not more, emphasis to an assorted vegetarian menu along with the regular non-vegetarian carte du jour.  Promising to be a break from the usual Asian fare, the cuisine on offer at Panash includes an intriguing mix of salads like Yasai Sarda along with a Thai Som Tam and Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls, each with a unique flavour, texture, dressing and lip-smacking taste! With over 20 varieties of Sushi, an assortment of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dim sums, starters, and an opulent mix of main course with teppanyaki, Thai noodles and the likes, Panash is surely every gourmet’s delight. Delectable desserts on the offering include fried ice cream with makrut honey along with crème brulee.

Fried ice cream with markut honey and creme brulee

A live Teppenyaki table along with a Sushi and Salad bar are a main draw of this restaurant, with the management offering a seasonal menu change, while reflecting the quality of a Starwood Asia Pacific F&B Outlet.

Panash is headed by Chef Francis, the Chef de Cuisine, Panash, and a master craftsman of his trade with more than 30 years of experience in Pan Asian cooking.

With affordable pricing and a great dining experience, Panash promises a Pan Asian delight for family and business travelers, alike, rearing to try a different menu!

An ode to my friend.....

I dream of the days of frolic and fun, 

Of banter, of chuckle, of smiles that we spun.

Strong bonds of friendship that fills the air,

Tiffs and squabbles, oh so rare!

I walk along, with a heavy heart, 

Seeking those dreams on a journey I depart.

A shoulder to cry, a hand to hold, 

I seek my friend with a heart of gold…

I look, I search, I hunt, in vain, 

A thousand eyes hound me in disdain.

But my heart tells me, you’re there my friend, 

To spread a smile, and desolation to end.

And as the sun begins to set, 

As bees and birds return to their nest,

The dark engulfs me, I begin to fear, 

You eclipse the dark and wipe my tear...

Tech-NO-logy

Appeared in Sakal Times, a leading English daily in Pune....

Empowering women through Kathak Yoga...

Art Abode

Vishwajeet Naik and House of Art can be followed on Facebook @ facebook.com/VISHWAJEET.NAIK and House of Art.

Green Beginnings....

Mazda farms, a home to Iranian family

Cool breeze, canines, catfishes, ducks, exotic fruits, spices, veges in the heart of the city… Surprised??!!! Meet Nozer and Sanjay Mazda, the father-son duo of Pune’s Mazda Farms.

The duo were at their hospitable best as they spoke about their passion for maintaining Mazda Farms, their striking farmhouse at Warje, in the heart of Kothrud.

The story dates back to the early 1900’s when Nozer Mazda’s father Sheriyar and uncle along with an interesting companion, a donkey, started their journey on foot from Iran. “We still have some family back in Tehran. While some of my cousins have settled in America and London, I enjoy being here, in the laidback, picturesque city of the Peshwas”, says Nozer with a twinkle in his eyes.

While his son Sanjay calls the shots at the Mazda farms, Nozer spends his time pursuing several interests and shares interesting anecdotes of his illustrious journey. He says, “As a youngster, I wanted to own a bike, which was available either in Iran or in London. To avoid spending extra months in Iran to acquire ownership of the bike, I left for London from there. After spending 11 months in London I finally shipped my bike to India.”

“The farmhouse that we sit on today was developed by my father more than 40-50 years ago. We initially grew jowar, bajra, sugarcane, basmati rice on this land. More recently, I had built a go-karting track for my children,” he added.

His son Sanjay takes us on a tour of the farmhouse while sharing some more interesting sketches of their passion for cultivating different fruits, “Besides the ducks, chicken and eight pooches that you see here, we also have several well-bred, well-fed catfish, over 2-feet long growing in our well. The climate of this farmhouse being conducive, it also attracts hornbills, peacocks, and a variety of seasonal birds.”

Unlike orthopaedic surgeon Satyasheel Naik, who has put up bird nests for the birds to make their home, Mazdas have not made any artificial homes for the species of birds which can be seen in the farm. The natural environment brings these birds, including hornbill, because of a variety of fruit trees.

He further goes to add, “My father has a peculiar habit of carrying fruits or seeds from his overseas and domestic trips. He then comes to our farmhouse and plants them, which now houses over fifteen varieties of fruit trees.”

Pointing out to the full-grown lychee tree, bearing the first fruit in 15 years, Sanjay adds, “This tree was full of lychees, which are originally known to grow in the northern and eastern parts of the country. Owing to the popularity and demand of this fruit, a lot of people and companies are trying to grow it in other parts of the country, including Pune, using the grafting method”.

Nozer says, he read a lot about lychees and learnt that the seed, after savouring the fruit, dies within two minutes and hence, “I would put the seed in the soil immediately.” The seeds which were thrown or buried more than a decade ago have now borne fruit after 16 years for the first time.

Squirrels relish the fruit very much, Nozer says pointing out a few half-eaten fruits, which then attract the bees.

Besides the juiciest and sweet lychees, this sprawling green patch houses Iranian mulberries, varieties of cherries and jamuns, limes, pomegranate, along with other varieties of fruits, a vegetable garden and spices from across the country.

What catches one's attention is a rare attraction in this farmhouse. A lone tree bearing an interesting fruit called the 'love apples.' This small green fruit has a lingering rose fragrance and taste and is probably known to be the only tree in the city… a novel idea for the next Valentine’s may be!! 

my expedition called life.....

“Life happens to you when you are busy making other plans”…

It took me three years and countless vain attempts at self-introspection to realize that a mindless melancholy life was already happening to me while I was busy planning life itself! Uneventful mishaps, distrust, misguiding acquaintances and helluva lows… how worse could a life of a young woman living in an Indian society, possible get???

I have no shame in admitting that my youthful shenanigans were a reflection of an immature and hasty attitude buried behind a level-headed face. In hindsight, all this was only preparing me for some of the most important lessons in my short yet eventful journey.

When life touches the lowest point, it only means that it is going to rise from there… It was this one hope that helped me embark on an expedition towards becoming a tad bit wiser than I was. On this road to recovery I discovered that some of the most unnoticed, mundane elements were the most essential in helping me stay happy and bring me to terms with some harsh yet important realities. And on this very path I happened to meet some of the warmest, endearing, new and old friends and well-wishers who will remain with me, in my life, forever!

In our stressed, competitive, ignorant environment, we’ve chosen to overlook hygiene issues in life… After a few jolts, I’ve come to terms with accepting these thumb rules and I would be more than glad to share it, without sounding too preachy of course!! 

-          My happiness rests in my hands…only my hands!!! If I am happy, only then can I make people around me feel the same

-          I can learn from my mistakes only if I am able to accept them

-          People will take me for granted only if I allow them to do so… Only I can draw the line and set expectations right while accepting my limitations

-          When I am attempting to do anything, I ask myself one question – will I be able to openly share this with my parents, loved ones? If the answer is yes, then what I am doing is right. If the answer is no, then just shake yourself and say – wake up!! Time to re-strategize!

-          Learn to let go…the more I hold on to unimportant things, the more importance I give them and add to my misery!

-          Meditate…take some time out for yourself…. Become one with yourself… if I can hear myself, I can rarely go wrong!

“Life happens to you when you are busy making other plans”… So live in the present, live every moment and soak yourself in every bit that life has to offer :) Hallelujah!!!!