Speaking of stars

My must-share link of the day: A beautiful set of photographs chronicling the biggest event of the past weekend - The Big Picture: Earth Hour 2010 [Sorry to ruin the moment, but I must point out the WTF-ness in photograph 3 of Las Vegas: notice the little blob of establishments right in the centre of the frame. I'm forced to ask: did they not get the "Switch Off Your Muthaeffing Lights For An Hour" memo?]

My Earth Hour consisted of me lying outside on our lawn, gazing at the dark starlit night, with my iPod playing my favourite Hindi songs from the 60's. Yes, it was just as blissful as it sounds. I think my parents stayed indoors and did practical things like organised their travel pouches by candlelight. Boooo-ring. Anyway, I was going to take photos, but my camera (surprise surprise) was not charged. Fail. However, no worries, there is no shortage of Earth Hour-esque photo-ops for us as we are routinely plunged into impenetrable darkness by our moody nationalised electricity provider (for those of you who left Zambia many years ago...yes, some things like ZESCO's unreliability, never change). Involuntarily, we, the humble dwellers of Nambala Close, are saving our planet one hair-pulling-clenched-teeth evening after another.

Speaking of frustration and impenetrable darkness...how about them Kolkata Knight Riders huh? Ugh. I must say, I really wish the sponsors and ugly corporate men would stop butting into the game and just allow Ganguly to be the best captain he can be. I'm sure it wasn't his choice to bring in 4 changes (including Ishant Sharma) to the squad that won our last match quite convincingly against KXIP. So upsetting to see a team with so many star players (I'm talking quality and potential, not necessarily just brand-name value) under-perform like this. And then there's the miserably atrocious luck of my poor Dhoni and his CSK! It is entirely unfair that 3 of my 4 favourite IPL teams are languishing in the bottom half of the table this season. Being a Manchester United supporter for the past 14 years, it's quite difficult to swallow such a bitter pill...although I suppose now I know what it feels like to be an Arsenal supporter... oooh, burn! :P

Anyway, on a more positive note - Ellie Goulding has been filling my life with a great deal of joy. I had been given a mix CD with some of her electroacoustic songs by Cherise early last year but honestly while I enjoyed the songs as much as I do most indie music (a lot, fyi), I didn't really go ape-shit crazy or anything. And then I saw this video on VH1 (yes yes groan all you want. So I'm a sell0ut to the kitschy mass-produced MTV culture...whachu gon do bout it huh?) a couple of weeks ago and it's so utterly gorgeous that I just had to share. I know MOST of you reading this will like her and the song - so you can all thank me by buying me cupcakes and lots of M*A*C eye shadow when we next see each other. Just saying...

And I leave you tonight with some beautiful lyrics from "Starry Eyed". I hope it reminds you of the people that you have chosen to love with all your heart :) Good night my little stars xxx

So we burst into colours, colours and carousels

Fall head first like paper planes in playground games.

Next thing, we're touching

You look at me it's like you hit me with lightning

Everybody's starry eyed...

The OST of Every Day

Sort of taken a step back from the Trance scene for a bit recently. Mostly because all of my friends from around the globe are going to WMC, TE, ASOT450 and can't stop talking about it. I listen as much as I can and as patiently as I can...but I have to say, it's hard. (To those of you reading who are at/going to these events, I love you and it's not your fault...like the old break-up cliche goes, "It's not you, it's me") I'm still of course tuned in to as many radio shows as I possibly can, but for some reason I'm a little less effervescent in the whole soul-upliftment department. I know this will pass...I'm sure around April 15th ish I'll stop being such a pissy/jealous brat and revert back to my old psychotic ways. Enjoy this lull while it lasts, non-TranceAddicts...you have been warned LOL

Anyway the upside to all of this is that I've been opening my mind up to and allowing myself to enjoy other musical genres (and no, I'm not talking about bassline-driven Trance vs euphoric Trance type genres...I mean for realsies :P)! So here are the songs that are currently a part of my daily routine, in chronological order:

Good Morning!

I heard this song more than a year ago, but I've recently rediscovered my love for it thanks to the video that's getting a lot of (well deserved, if slightly belated) airplay. It's easily my go-to song for peace right now - oh god the accordion...it's divine.

First tea break

The quintessential Hindi film music hook - catchy Hinglish lyrics, a very danceable beat, and a heavy dose of natkhat (non-Hindi speakers, I have absolutely NO idea how to translate this word, sorry) attitude. Not to mention the fact that the video features some of the most stunning visuals I've seen in ages, and I'm not talking about Italy either ;)

Afternoon anti-nap pump up song

Don't judge OK. I know I wasn't really feeling this song way back in November when it first came out, but I have to admit it gets me grooving with my shot of espresso as I have to painfully edit articles with semicolons in the wrong places and writers who use "who" instead of "whom". Plus Lil Wayne + Swizz Beatz...nuff said.

Post-work drive home/drinks accompaniment

It's very difficult for me to admit to having a David Guetta song on repeat. But it is a pretty glorious little tune. And it also perfectly summarises a lot of my adult life ;) Anyway, I'm going to justify my embarrassing love for this one by saying it's Kid Cudi's very sexy presence in the song that makes it what it is. Just look at him - sigh, I could do this all day...

Wrapping up my day/introspection accompaniment

The only Trance song on this list. I have probably heard this song 280 times in the last month...and it doesn't affect me any less even today. The piano and vocals have this beautiful ethereal quality to them and it's probably this that makes my heart weep a little each time. I don't know what 2010 has done to me - this and "Never Cry Again (JvD Remix)" are two of my favourite tracks of the year...me? A Vocal Trance softie? Who woulda thought.

The song that ALWAYS seem to be playing

But I've written at length about the awesomeness of this one.

"Without music, life would be a mistake" - Nietzsche. Clever man, that Friedrich was...

India win the World Cup!!!

No, but seriously. India win Street Child World Cup in South Africa

Yes, definite WTF-ness. But looking past the absolute bizarreodom of it all, I was also forced to think about Amit Varma's post on "The Drain", as he calls it. Amazing what wonders we've done with the Indian kids who were left behind. And we continue to fail them. Le sigh...

[P.S. - see that Somji, your country sucks at football. Even when it's the street kids version :P]

McD and HCR

I just found the most HI-larious facebook page: Going to MacDonalds for a salad roll is like going to a brothel for a hug Bahahahaha! People are so random and wonderful.

In other news, 3 cheers for Health Care Reform! No, it's not perfect AT ALL by any means and people who are talking about "yay universal healthcare" are clearly A1 idiots. Nonetheless it is a long overdue and much-needed start. Also, it's also a resonant "Faaaaahq Off" to the Republicans. Kudos to the Dems and Barack-lover in particular for sticking to their guns and seeing this through.

I agree, there are HUGE flaws with it - not least of all the fact that 24million ppl will still be without insurance, health care costs will still increase by 0.1% of the US GDP in 2019 (which doesn't see a lot when written like that, but is actually something like $230mill. holy crappito) and annual premiums will barely be reduced (in some cases even going up by a few thousand bucks or so) - and boy oh boy if you read the super-left leaning blogs (ahem, guilty as charged) you'll begin to believe that the Bill is anti-immigrant, -woman, - union, -middleclass, -LGBTQ, -horseswithoneeye etc. But really, people who have been denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition finally have a way to access health care, no lifetime limits, no "rescissions" after you file a claim, by 2011 insurance companies will by law have to spend 80-85% of their premiums earnings on actual health care (please don't ask why this isn't already the norm), no automatic premium rate raises, and by 2014 ban on annual limits - these are ALL good things.

Also it's important that McD and Health Care Reform both feature in this post. Because as of today I am on a 6 day liquids only (no booze jokes please, that's just cruel) detox diet. Next person to send me pictures of cupcakes and biryani will be an ex-friend. For serious...

And I have just looked at my clock and realised I have missed an hour of the Knight Rider innings. Talk about epic freaking FAIL! UGH! Ok must wobble on over to the bedroom NOW...come on KKR let's kick some Mumbai tush!! KORBO LORBO JEETBO RE!

Happy Monday errrrbody! xxx

"maane naa mera dil deewana"

Partly because of the ever-beautiful, romantic Zambian summer rain; partly because of this steaming cup of Darjeeling tea in my mom's best china (shh don't tell her); partly because I wish we still loved like they used to way back then; and partly because they just don't make 'em like they used to - this has been my playlist for this beautiful Sunday morning.

(for all you playlist snobs: err I don't know how to make this image clearer/readable...technology noob, I know! but I think if you click on the thumbnail, it gets bigger...right?)

How I wish I lived during a time when my legit film star crushes were on Shammi Kapoor and Dev Anand...*sigh*

Have a luvly-juvly Sunday, readers!

S xxx

P.S. - Don't be fooled by what the clock says on the screen shot, it's set to US EST time. I wish I had that kind of discipline

Zombie nights

6:30 AM...been up all night listening to The Gareth Emery Podcast Episode 100 live broadcast from Sankeys in Manchester with #Trancefamily...no sleep...and then Menno de Jong drops "RAMsterdam (Jorn van Deynhoven Remix)" - RAM in his set.

I FEEL SO ALIVE!!!

And then there's the little matter of Simon's 1hr30min set starting NOW! Simon, love of my life...man of my dreams...DJ who stole my heart. Yes, him. Happiness happening right here, right now.

Trance Music gets me through. My life, my love, my everything :D \o/

Genius? Sounds like it...

OMFG! What an epic rework! What a great way to lift my spirits! Eric Prydz, I LAAV you :D


And this is the original 2007 classic...train your EDM ear to spot the differences ;)

"Heart don't fail me now..."

I was supposed to be leaving for the trip of my dreams in a few days. What is it with life?

I'm trying to share everyone's joy at them being able to attend Winter Music Conference, Trance Energy & ASOT 450 over the next few weeks...but to be honest, I'm finding it hard to control the tears every time it's brought up. I'm genuinely happy that everyone's going to be at these events...but I was supposed to be there too, right? I shouldn't be bitter, I know...but really, I am a little.

I must've grossly wronged someone for this to happen to me again. I can't explain it. There doesn't seem to be any logical reason for things to turn out this way right now. I suppose the only way out is to accept it and try and find some way to turn this sad energy into something productive. If you have any ideas, please feel free to help me. Seriously.

And for god's sake please don't tell me it's not a big deal/that serious...yes, I know there are bigger problems in this world....and yes I know TE & ASOT aren't going anywhere...but if you really don't understand how much March 23rd - April 11th 2010 meant to me, I'd rather we didn't speak about it at all.

I just want this karma shit to quit now. Please stop taking my dreams away from me. Please stop punishing me. Please, life, forgive me for whatever I did :(

KLJ chant time!

Firstly, I lOVE that all you guys are so pumped about the IPL. Warms my heart! The texts during the matches...aah they make my day, I feel like I'm watching with all of you! *love* One of my favourites would have to be from Shiv, after Ganguly's amazing cut-shot six against Bangalore, he messages me with: "Oh how I wish I were a Bong right now" hahaha...I'm a sucker for that sorta stuff ;) And a special thank you for all the support for the Knight Riders...I feel like a proud missionary when I hear that an ex Punjab/Delhi fan has converted because of my constant droning :P

It's an absolute delight to watch KKR do so well in their first two games (although, wtf was up with taking the chase to the last over against RCB? Ugh!), especially after our dismal season last year...hope we can continue this massively wonderful winning streak.

And yes, I have to say, I feel like a terrible wifey for wanting my KKR to kick some CSK tush tonight. Sorry Mahi jaan, bros before hos.

KORBO LORBO JEETBO RE!!

P.S. - someone asked me when I'll be updating my blog with a 'serious' post. Sacrilege! What on earth could be more important than cricket and football? :P

wisdom before bedtime

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before beginning to improve the world." — Anne Frank

Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo v3.0

IPL 3 starts today!!! YAY! Yes, I'm a cricket whore and therefore have no standards blah blah blah. I'm OK with that. I love the IPL like I love any other form of cricket - be it test, ODI or T20I - and I'm not ashamed of it :)


Bong Nation is out in full force today for the opening match!! Dad wanted to screen the game using a projector on our outside wall. But we talked him out of it...mostly because we'd have to do most of the work. Unfortunately I don't have a KKR jersey (ahem my birthday's coming up in August ahem) so I'm just going to get decked up in black & gold. We don't have a lot of our foreign stars (notably, my other cricketing sweetheart Brendan McCullum is away on International duty until April 1st *sadface*) - but I'm sure the desi boys can hold the fort down till they all arrive. Not making any big claims of winning the championship...right now I'm just hoping this season is not as much of a titanic disaster as last year!!

Let's go Knight Riders! Ami Kolkata...WE RULE! :D

EDIT: Just been told that KKR's colours are now purple. Last-minute wardrobe overhaul ftw!!

United through & Madrid out. Lethal.

Another beautiful Wazza double


The return of the prodigal son! Welcome home Becks

My favourite photos from a night to remember! Truly epic the way we crushed and disposed of the second best team in the Serie A. This Man U squad is playing better than ever before...and on a personal note, I am so happy to see my dear Roooooooney do so well. It's been a long time coming :)

So, on to the Quarters we go...GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED!!!

We'll be Green and Gold. Til they die or fold.

And we won't wear red. Until Glazer's dead.

Duniya bhula ke naach...

Some songs just know how to make your day :)

"Now double your money and make it stack"

I, like most people conversant with the hip-hop game, knew Jay-Z wasn't being serious when he asked the rhetorical "What More Can I Say?" on his so-called retirement album "The Black Album". We all knew he'd be back...and, before you could say "Rocnation", he was.

Worryingly, though, he wasn't quite the HOV we all remembered. "Kingdom Come" was quite weak, "American Gangster" was quite a bit worse. And his collabs with wifey Beyonce....well, to be honest, I was too busy admiring her perfection to really notice his accessorizing presence in those videos. As for his 25 second cameo in "Umbrella", no that really does not count (although Rihanna should probably build him a shrine for single-handedly saving her career).

And then came "D.O.A." I was personally blown away. If you haven't heard it yet, please do it now. The song has a gorgeous old school sound, complemented beautifully by a jazzy-rocky-bluesy guitar riff/trumpet sample, all set off by a deep rolling drumline that is sicker than a 6 year old with chicken pox. And lyrically, it glitters. I must've heard the song 30 times in a row after I first saw it on MTV Base last summer. And this coming from a hardcore Trancehead. Yeah, it's pretty baller.

Why he followed it up with "Run This Town" though I'll never know. It features a creatively toothless Kanye and an unbeatably annoying Rihanna. I could go on and on about how grossly terrible this song is but just typing out the last few lines about it gives me a mild toothache...so I'm just going to stop here.

And then came (oh boy I can see you guys sitting up straighter in your chairs) "Empire State of Mind". Confession: not my cup of chai. I promise I'm not just saying that to be 'different' (evidence: I love "TiK Tok"), I just genuinely don't like it much. Yes, Jay-Z's verses are sharp and eloquent; and sure, I've sung along to Alicia's powerful chorus at many clubs over the last few months (although for this I'd like to blame it on the a-a-a-alcohol)...but I just never managed to connect with the song. Perhaps because: a) I don't really love NY all that much, b) the harmonic and rhythmic composition of the base tracks just aren't as creative and strong as I'd like.

So I was left waiting...for a little more genuine HOV magic. And, the benevolent hip-hop god didn't leave me hangin'

And "On To The Next One" was born.

[I know a couple of people who were quite disturbed by some of the Occult/Masonic references the video makes. If you'd like an article that analyses this in more depth, just e-mail/ask me for it - I don't really want to link it up on my blog]

First, let's just talk about the song can we? Epic win. Swizz Beatz is truly a legend and I know that without the skillful production and mastering that he's done on this track, it wouldn't be half as explosive as it is. He uses an old fashioned drum machine but complements it with the very modernist deep bassline and rounds it all off with a sample from an electro-pop classic ("D.A.N.C.E." - Justice >> and yeah I spotted that by myself before confirming it from the official release, can I get a "what what!") -- tell me that's not slick! If you pay half as much attention to the production and sound engineering side of music, you'll surely appreciate why I've just spent a paragraph singing Swizz's praises. Jay-Z is in top form with his word play ("No I'm not a Jonas [pause] brother, I'm a grown up/No I'm not a virgin, I use my cojones") and you can tell he had a blast recording this one - after all it is mostly Jay-Z talking about how awesome...well, Jay-Z is.

And then there's the video. Shot in crisp black-and-white, it features a smattering of obscure images/references, some probing portraits of interesting characters and is decidedly and wonderfully eerie. Also, Jay-Z looks so freaking hot, I don't even know what to do with myself. Oh yeah and the sexy The Joker-esque guy is the icing on the bizarre-o cake. Right up my alley and I laaav it.

I've heard mixed reviews from my 'real'-hip-hop-fan friends but really my opinion of this track is pretty much set in stone. I don't know if it's coz the song is objectively great, or if it's because I've loved Jay Z since I was 12, or if it's because I'm drawn to creepy things...whatever the reason, I think it's bloody brilliant. It reminds me that even today it is still lines like

"Somebody bring me back some money please, hey

I got a million ways to get it, choose one"

that make me fistpump the hardest. You can take the girl outta Hip-Hop but you just can't take the Hip-Hop outta the girl...

Giggity

Umm yeah, this is pretty much the cast of all my R-Rated fantasies

For this moment alone...best.Oscars.ever.

A brief and less pervy round-up of the ceremony to follow tomorrow. For now I'm going to put my Crazy Heart OST on repeat, listen to the rain and stare at this photo some more. Sweet dreams they shall be...

Oscar Ballot 2010

No nonsense predictions post, this one is. FYI, my predictions are 20% educated guess and 80% hunch. And in some cases, pure teary-eyed hopefulness. So, here we go.

Writing (Original Screenplay)

- The Hurt Locker

- Inglourious Basterds*

- The Messenger

- A Serious Man

- Up

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

- District 9

- An Education

- In The Loop

- Precious

- Up In The Air* - although I think District 9 is a strong contender

Sound Mixing

- Avatar*

- The Hurt Locker

- Inglourious Basterds

- Star Trek

- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Sound Editing (totally winging this prediction, I know nothing about sound editing)

- Avatar

- The Hurt Locker*

- Inglourious Basterds

- Star Trek

- Up

Short Film (Live Action)

- The Door

- Instead of Abracadabra

- Kavi

- Miracle Fish

- The New Tenants* - my favourite! But I think The Door or Kavi might steal it

Short Film (Animated)

- French Roast

- Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty* - but please watch all the movies on this list. each one is a gem.

- The Lady and the Reaper

- Logorama

- A Matter of Loaf and Death

Costume Design

- Bright Star

- Coco Before Chanel

- The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

- Nine* - although, I really think the clothes only look that good because the people wearing them are so effing hot

- The Young Victoria

Visual Effects

- Avatar* - duh?

- District 9

- Star Trek

Music (Original Score)

- Avatar* - picking this because it's my favourite. Mostly because of all the electro influences in the compositions.

- Fantastic Mr. Fox

- The Hurt Locker

- Sherlock Holmes

- Up

Foreign Language Film

- Ajami

- The Milk of Sorrow (La Teta Asustada)

- A Prophet (Un Prophete)

- The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos)

- The White Ribbon (Das Weisse Band)* - admittedly, I've only seen 3 of the nominated films, but if this doesn't win, I will stop watching the Oscars forever.

Film Editing

- Avatar [wait really? you mean that was the edited version?? :P]

- District 9

- The Hurt Locker* - only because I've read and been told about how good the editing is. Based on the films I've watched, it would go to Basterds.

- Inglourious Basterds

- Precious

Documentary Short (skipping this because I've only seen one of the films)

Documentary Feature

- Burma VJ

- The Cove

- Food, Inc.* - I cheated, I've only seen this one, but I think it's brilliant!

- The Most Dangerous Man In America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers

- Which Way Home

Makeup (skipping this because I haven't seen any of the films to completion...rooting for Star Trek though!)

Music (Original Song)

- "Almost There": The Princess and the Frog

- "Down In New Orleans": The Princess and the Frog

- "Loin de Paname": Paris 36

- "Take It All Away": Nine

- "The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)"*: Crazy Heart - oh please, god, PLEASE!!

Cinematography

- Avatar

- The Hurt Locker* - again, haven't seen it, but I'm pretty sure will bag it.

- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

- Inglourious Basterds

- The White Ribbon

Art Direction

- Avatar* - again, duh!

- The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

- Nine

- Sherlock Holmes

- The Young Victoria

Best Animated Feature

- Coraline

- Fantastic Mr. Fox

- The Princess and the Frog

- The Secret of Kells

- Up* - pretty easy call. And don't hate me, but I liked Coraline better...

Best Director

- James Cameron, Avatar

- Kathryn Bigelow*, The Hurt Locker - haven't seen it, so this is based on the experts' opinions and what the rest of this year's awards ceremonies have said. If it were up to me, though, I'd give it to Reitman.

- Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

- Lee Daniels, Precious

- Jason Reitman, Up In The Air

Best Supporting Actress

- Penelope Cruz, Nine

- Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air

- Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart

- Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air [she really shouldn't be on this list]

- Mo'Nique*, Precious - seriously? No contest.

Best Supporting Actor

- Matt Damon, Invictus

- Woody Harrelson, The Messenger

- Christopher Plummer, The Last Station

- Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones

- Christopher Waltz*, Inglourious Basterds - I am more sure of this than I am of death.

Best Actress

- Sandra Bullock*, The Blind Side - I think she deserves it, but Streep will win it

- Helen Mirren, The Last Station

- Carey Mulligan, An Education

- Gabourey Sidibe, Precious

- Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

Best Actor (The One Where I Expose Myself As A Coward)

- Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

- George Clooney, Up in the Air

- Colin Firth, A Single Man

- Morgan Freeman, Invictus

- Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

*sigh* I cannot bring myself to predict a winner. I want to throw the award to Clooney. I have never in my life loved a character/performance as much as his in Up in the Air - measured, mature, majestic! And yet Jeff Bridges literally made me weep with his portrayal of Bad Blake. But Colin Firth is underrated, Morgan Freeman is one of my all-time favourites and um...I'm sure Renner did a great job as well. Whoever wins I'll be delighted...but I'll pop the champagne only for Clooners.

Best Picture

- Avatar* - JC vs KB. the suspense will kill us all. In all honesty, I'd give it to Up in the Air (err yeah I'm kind of a fan)

- The Blind Side

- District 9

- An Education

- The Hurt Locker

- Inglourious Basterds

- Precious

- A Serious Man

- Up

- Up In The Air

Put your hands waaaay up if you're as excited as I am for Steve Martin & Alec Baldwin!! I hope you all manage to make a party out of it - it truly is one of the best nights of the year. Oh boy oh boy oh boy....

Giddy with excitement,

S xxx

Chal chal sadko pe hogi dhan tan...

Something I love doing with films is watching them after the hype surrounding them has died down. I some how feel like I have a more objective viewing. So, on 6th March 2010, almost a year after it was originally released, I finally watched it. Kaminey. It was meant to be a magical dream come true for me - not least of all because it is my favourite Indian director, Vishal Bhardwaj [henceforth knows as VB], taking on my most-beloved genre of cinema, the gritty crime caper. It did not disappoint.

There have been reams written about this film. They say any film on which everyone seems to have an opinion, whether hyper-complimentary or ascorbic, is worth watching. Like everyone else I, too, have something to say - it's not Bhardwaj's best...but it's still effing awesome!

There really is so much that I loved about this film. And since I tend to be a pretty verbose writer, I'm limiting myself to a few dozen words/point.

- I love films that open with an ambiguous chase. Yes, it's pretty standard in any crime caper worth its weight in box office collections, but to do it well still takes a certain amount of skill. The jerky camera action has to suggest a certain closeness to the goings on and yet still be positioned in a manner to ensure the audience is comfortable in its role as passive voyeurs. The mandatory freeze frames need to be perfectly timed and must coordinate to the t with the crisp expositionary voiceover. VB pulls it off. Wonderfully. And so, with the first scene getting a huge check mark in the "Win" category, I got ready for the ride.

- The lighting. I'm not particularly conversant in all the technical lingo, but I absolutely adored the way this film was shot. I'd say it was like VB shot the film, and then clicked the "Boost Colour" button in whatever editing programme he was using. It's fantastic. The reds are deep, the blues are sharp, and the close-ups capture every subtle line in the actors' faces, every rippling muscle in their (well-toned) bodies. I really admire directors/cinematographers who give importance to the tint, contrast and type of film they use and I think in Kaminey each sequence was treated as a unique entity that required very particular attention. It definitely pays off.

- The dialogue. VB is a master at writing gritty scripts in which even a seemingly inocuous statement is laced in an eerie murkiness - it is no different in Kaminey. Compared to your regular run-of-the-mill Hindi film, the dialogue is surprisingly limited. The plot is really drawn out through the physical action, which is why I think even when characters make declarations about the state of the world and mankind, it never comes across as being preachy or artificial. Of course it's a credit to the writing that every word out of the characters' mouths seems like something they would say - it's incredible to me how VB manages to understand so many different kinds of human beings and then creates plausible characters out of them. Which leads me to...

- The acting. OK, so there are no Irrfans, Ajays or (as much as it pains me to say this) Saifs in this film. I'm a huge Shahid Kapoor fan, thanks to Jab We Met, but I still think he struggles to lift his performance from really really good to epic (which is what most of the actors in VB's other films have done). Especially when he plays Charlie, I really did feel like he was trying too hard to be a brooding, dark anti-hero and therefore his performance rang a little false. Come to think of it, for some reason I felt this way about a lot of the supporting cast in this film. In any crime caper, there will be many subplots and it is inevitable that the audience will be exposed to fistfuls of characters. But I think what some of the minor characters struggled with was understanding that they were merely pitstops - to use a terrible analogy, their (over-)acting suggested that they believed that it was their role in changing the tires on the Ferrari that won Schumi the race. Having said all that, the acting was still about 50,000 times better than in any other Hindi film in recent memory.

- Priyanka Chopra. Yes, she deserves her own bullet point. I was blown away by her in this film. Finally a female character in a Hindi film I can relate to, not just as a woman, but as a human being. I think she was the best developed character in Kaminey and while I must give a truckload of credit to VB for creating such a powerful, realistic, fiery and loveable Sweety, much more credit must go to Piggy Chops for portraying her with such maturity and giving an overpowering warmth to the character. Truly a performance of a lifetime and the extent to which it has been underrated is appalling to me.

- Gaane-shaane. My dad and I actually had an argument about this actually. I think that every song was perfectly placed in the film...from "Fatak" setting the background for the opening credits to the very playful "Raat Ke Dhai Baje" during the wedding scene to the introspective "Kaminey" near the climax of the film (and yes of COURSE "Dhan Te Nan" which, even had it been the backdrop of a mother's funeral, I would've loved), I believe the songs complemented the script. My dad suggested it slowed down the film. Thoughts?

- Every lesson learned. This is a very personal comment/interpretation of the thematic content of the film. I've very recently been very drawn to films in which the underlying theme reveals that human beings, essentially, do not change very much. It's the reason why I loved the leads in Up In The Air and Crazy Heart (ooh that reminds me, must.do.Oscars.prediction.post.) - it takes a great deal of honesty to suggest that in the end, people's personalities remain pretty standard throughout their adult lives, pluses and minuses intact (give or take a few degrees of intensity). The idea that a tear-jerking diatribe or a life-altering situation will necessarily spark an introspection so intense that we fundamentally alter who we are as human beings is not true to reality, I believe. I love that in Kaminey our characters (who are ALL a bright shade of grey) do not drastically alter much, despite the world's efforts. I don't think this is a negative thing at all, by the way. I'm not suggesting that human beings are doomed to their fate as good or bad people. I don't think there is such a thing as objective goodness or badness when it comes to human beings (individual acts, of course, are a different matter altogether) - I think it suggests that as people we choose who we want to be and have the conviction to be true to that, no matter what life and other people throw at us. Whether it's being steadfastly committed to our dreams (as Charlie is) or whether it's being so loyal to our larger set of moral principles that we will betray a brother's dream to do what we believe is right (at least that's what I see Guddu having done) - we ultimately stay unwaveringly true to who we have carefully constructed ourselves to be.

Having said all that, I do have one serious issue with the film as well. The first time I've ever felt this way about a VB film actually. I'm still not entirely sure why he made this film. I don't think Kaminey does anything drastically different from other underworld/crime capers that have come before it (oh god, does anyone else remember that two year period when EVERY film coming out of Bombay seemed to be about gangs and/or policemen? Jeez!). Don't get me wrong, I don't think a director should ever have to justify why s/he's made a film after a so-called 'trend' has passed...I guess I just feel a little disappointed that Kaminey isn't as ground-breaking as I thought it would be. My knowledge of Hindi cinema doesn't allow me to definitively say that it's the first time a crime flick with multiple story lines has been done, and I don't think it is. It isn't at all a black comedy like Pulp Fiction (which is what people have told me it's based off of) or Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels. Like some other aspects of the film, I think it falls into the precarious crack between great and stupendous, and this is only disappointing because VB usually manages to surpass stupendous without breaking a sweat.

Final thoughts: Hindi cinema needs more Kamineys (the movie, of course, we have more than enough corrupt, sleazy baaashturds in the Bombay film industry already) and Vishal Bhardwajs. We need more films with crisp dialogue, intricate plot lines, mature character development, thematic honesty and attention to detail. And while I do think it breaks ground with its quality, I don't think the film itself brings anything drastically new to the table. VB can do better, but even in his failings he still manages to impress and leave me fmiling, st-st-st-uttering and dhinkchak-ing to "Dhan Te Nan". So no fear, VB, our love story continues...

My Rating: 7.50/10 [Try and recall the scene in which Sweety rushes to the police station to save Guddu from the torturous interrogation session. The melodramatic shehnai in the background score was really awful. It would be funny if it were meant to be ironic...but it wasn't. That blunder actually knocked off 0.25 of a point off my final rating. Sorry, VB.]

Ready, set, blog!

Yes, here it goes again. Another blog. For those of you keeping count, this would be attempt number 3. Gawd it's genuinely shocking how incapable I am of fulfilling commitments. Not using this as an excuse**, but every single one of those dumb tests and future-interpreters says the following three things about me: I will fight till the death for an idea that I believe in (ok, flattering), I am incredibly stubborn (am not!!! *throws fit*), and, most relevant in this context, I can never finish what I've started.

I know I've always revealed symptoms of being a wow-this-was-interesting-5-minutes-ago-but-i-don't-really-care-anymore jerk. For instance, in KG. I would routinely beat up the boys who always managed to steal the swings within the first 30 seconds of breaktime being declared. But after drop-kicking Kevin (who I'm pretty sure I also had a massive crush on) to the ground, instead of triumphantly jumping on the swing, kicking up some major playground dust and soaring high above the other kids with my panties in full bloom, I would instead turn to the big yellow plastic slopey thingamajig 30 feet away, and hurtle towards it squealing "oooooh sliiiiide". Then there's the embarrassing example of the 5 kinds of cereal boxes that always adorn the top of our fridge, each with exactly 2 weeks' worth of goodies gone (although in my defense, to this day I can still polish off an entire box of Frosties in one sitting…they're Grrreat!). And of course the more contemporary telltale sign: the fact that i cannot invest more than a few weeks or months, respectively, on the men and careers I am supposedly interested in.

OK so I've been in denial all this time. But now that I have admitted to my paralysing character flaw, surely it shouldn't be too hard to remedy right? Believe me, it is. How many times have i sat in front of a computer screen telling myself that I wouldn't budge until I finished a blog post...only to watch the exasperated machine painfully emit a high pitched beeeeeeep 3.5hrs later and inform me with a not-too-subtle veneer of judgment that it was going into "sleep mode". Evidently, to save some of its battery life and preserve what was left of my self-respect. Even this post has taken me three attempts and 5 coffee breaks to complete. I really have all the makings of a West Bengal government office clerk. Ah now that's a career I should pursue. [Grabs moleskin and jots down latest career-related epiphany]

*Sigh* Anyway, the chronic optimist, I keep telling myself that this time will be different. Please don't hate me if it doesn't quite work out that way because, believe me, I will be doing enough self-loathing for all of us.

So, once again, welcome to my blog! If this is your first time reading a blog authored by yours truly, I warn you I am equal parts psychotic and senti. If this is your second or third time, I applaud your patience…I will be informing the Pope of your potential candidacy as modern-day saints. Yeah Benny and I are tight like that.

Wish me good luck guys. This time I've vowed to be a finis…ooh, slide!!

**I'm not a believer of things like horoscopes or personality tests. I don't think you can effectively place people in air-tight boxes based on arbitrary things like birth date, or their whimsical answers to a few multiple choice questions or traits such as their nose length (I'm sure such a thing exists). Just sayin'.