Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Travel: Murud-Janjira.





What do you do when you have a Safari? You jus pack your bags and hit the road.. and this tym the road led us to Murud-Janjira.



Murud-Janjira is a fort located on a island jus off the coast f the village Murud in the Raigad district f Maharashtra. It was the Siddis who built the 22-acre fort and is known for being unconquered.

It's approx 190kms from Mumbai. We started at 6:45am and reached the fort at 11:45. The road to Murud-Janjira is quite pleasant except for the last 50kms. The last 50kms comes once you cross the famous Alibaug beach. On the way, there's this infamous beach, Kashid. Kashid's beautiful with white sand which are a rare sight in India. It's less populated and considerably clean. It's less populated because people just stop at Alibaug and never venture further.

Once you cross Kashid, there comes a rural area called Murud. There are 3 villages surrounding the Fort which is surrounded by water on all 4 sides. This waters is the Arabian Sea. There's a boat service which runs from the bandar to the fort at a mere Rs.20/ person. There's one boat every 45minutes. No safety measures are followed inside the boat. So, you better take care f yourself once inside. The approx distance to the fort would be 5kms and it takes bout 15mins to reach there on the boat. Interesting thing is, you've got to change the boat to a smaller one because this big boat cannot go near the entrance. The smaller boat takes you near the entrance. There is yet another amazing feature f the Janjira. The entrance can only be seen when you're extremely near the fort. The architecture of the fort is such. Imagine the engineering at that tym. #Respect.

Once you're in the fort the boat guide gives you enough information about the fort to whet your appetite and then charges Rs.50/person as a charge for his services as a guide.

Inside the fort there is a secret tunnel which was built 70ft under the fort to reach the villages. It's closed now but one can see it's entrance. There is a 12 tonne cannon placed strategically near it's entrance. There was debate about how such a heavy cannon was carried up there. There is a Dargah inside the fort. Some broken structures constitute the center f the fort. There is a pond inside the fort. Although the fort is surrounded by all sides by sea, this pond consists f sweet water. The locals say it's a miracle and the queen used to bathe in that pond. When you climb the highest point of the fort you see a distant fort again in the middle f the sea. Rumours has it that it was built by Shivaji's son Sambhaji in order to conquer the fort but was unsuccessful. The stone with which the fort is built is so strong that in so many years it has gone in just 2 inches due to the crashing waves. There's this woman inside who provides water to the thirsty tourists for free but tourists usually leave some change behind.

The visiting tym for this fort is jus 45minutes. Hence, taking the services f the guide may actually be helpful.


P.S. - Worth visiting. Carry sunscreen and a hat because there's no shade whatsoever. Try to reach before 11: am and complete the visit before the sun becomes unbearable.


P.P.S - If you're lucky you will spot Dolphins.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

movie review: Inkaar.

Cast: Arjun Rampal, Chitrangada Singh.

Director: Sudhir Mishra.


This movie is based on a very strong theme - Sexual harassment. So, what exactly is "Sexual Harassment"? According to Wikipedia, Sexual Harassment is bullying or coercion f a sexual nature or inappropriate promise f rewards in exchange f sexual favors.

The story goes like this - Rampal plays an established CEO f a very big advertising agency while Chitra, as I fondly call her, plays a fresher in that line. Rampal takes her under his wing and teaches her everything about Advertising. During this period both f 'em fall in love. This love story in broken by Chitra's jealousy over Rampal's closeness to a add model. Consequently she leaves him goes to Delhi and from there, New-york [yes, goin to New-york is always easy in movies] for 7years. 

Cut two, Chitra returns with a boyfriend and to acquire a position in the board f directors. This promotion Chitra hides from Rampal which makes him very uncomfortable. He avenges this insult. He harasses Chitra for lil things and lastly makes a sexual innuendo towards her, this however is unclear.

Chitra files a case f Sexual Harssment against Rampal. The case is studied by experts but in vain. They are unable to come to a solution and loose sleep over this case unaware that Rampal and Chitra kiss and make up in the gents washroom. [Chitra, you had made a public statement that you would never kiss on-screen, what happened to that promise?]

The end is terrible. They could have made it better. You could watch this one once. Rampal, Chitra - get some acting lessons. [Chitra, sorrie darling but fact is fact - you can't act.]


P.S. Chitra, you're hot.





















Saturday, December 8, 2012

movie review: Student of the year.

Cast: Alia Bhat, Sidharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan.


Director: Karan Johar.

New comers. Young blood. Chest. Biceps. 6-pack abs. Money. Fame. Fast cars. Rich fat father. Son f rich father wants to be a rockstar. Poor boy. Wants to be rich, famous lyk the rich son's fat father. Rich boy and poor boy become enemies. Pretty girl, girlfriend f rich boy. Short skirts. Bitching. Reindeer games. Posh skool, best in the country. Gay principal. Student f the year trophey. Competition. Rich boy and poor boy become best friends. Pretty girl falls in love with poor boy. Rich boy and poor boy fight. Poor boy helps rich boy win the trophy. Skool ends. Pretty girl marries poor boy. Gay-Principal falls ill. Calls these fools. Rich boy is now a big singer. Poor boy is an investment banker. Chest, Biceps, 6-pack abs still present. Pretty girl hugs rockstar. Investment banker gets angry. Fight. Pretty girl watches. Fight ends. Rockstar and Investment banker hug each other. End of the movie.



P.S. - DO NOT WATCH.

P.P.S - Karan Johar, why dont u go jump in the lake?

Sunday, November 18, 2012

movie review: Chakravyuh

Cast: Arjun Rampal, Abhay Deol, Om Puri, Esha Gupta.


Director: Prakash Jha


Tough storylyn. This movie is made on a very sensitive topic, the Naxals.

Rampal plays the cop who is posted in Nanded to finish off the Naxals. Esha plays his wife + associate cop. LOL, ryt.. I noe. Abhay Deol plays a stubborn friend then an estranged friend and then a back stabbing bastard. Om Puri plays a Naxal advisor. Manoj Bajpai plays the Naxal leader.

Rampal plants Deol in the Naxal gang as a rat. But, as Deol stays among 'em he realizes that there's more to Naxals that what meets the eye. He explains this Rampal and asks him to withdraw from Nanded. Rampal refuses to withdraw. Now, it's Rampal versus Deol. The cops & the Naxals go for a toss. Esha Gupta was not required, they could have managed without her. Bajpai's talent got wasted. Rampal looks tough as a cop. Deol is at his best.


P.S.  you could watch this one over a cheese-popcorn.





Sunday, May 13, 2012

movie review: Vicky Donor.

Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Yami Gautam, Annu Kapoor.

Director: Shoojit Sircar


The movie starts with Ayushmann, Vicky Arora being a happy-go-lucky-guy, having an affair with his hot neighbour. Vicky's mother pestering him to earn money but not doing a job. Vicky goes to a bank one fine day to open an account where he encounters Yami, Ashima Roy for the first tym & immediately falls for her.

 Meanwhile, fertility expert Annu Kapoor, Dr. Chadda finds out that Vicky is a carrier of healthy sperms judging by the fact that his grandfather became a father the 19th tym at the age of 78. Dr. Chadda talks Vicky into donating his sperms for the needy. Vicky is reluctant in the beginning but agrees later.

On the other side, Vicky & Ashima get closer & eventually get married. Ashima finds out that Vicky was a sperm donor before & after they got married. She gets mad because Vicky hid this thing from her. She leaves him & stays with her father. Later, Dr.Chadda enlightens Ashima about the good work that Vicky has done by helping the needy couples get a child.

The twist in the story comes when they find out that Ashima cannot conceive ever. They later adopt a child which was born from Vicky's donated sperm to a couple who died in an accident later.

Ayushmann is awesome in the movie. Natural, I'd say. Annu Kapoor is excellent as always. Yami is very good looking. Ayushmann's neighbour is hot.

A tinge f Bengali made the movie even more spicier.



P.S.  A brilliantly made movie. Wonderful concept. Cheers to the writer. Must watch.

Friday, March 9, 2012

movie review: Last Night.

Cast: Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington, Eva Mendes

Director: Massy Tadjedin



This is a story of a married couple Keira & Sam.

Keira accuses her husband, Sam of being attracted to his co-worker, Eva. This happens a night before Sam has to go to Philadelphia with Eva on a business trip. In the morning Keira realizes her fault & writes a note to Sam saying that she might have over-reacted.

Sam leaves for Philadelphia. Meanwhile, Keira meets her ex-boyfriend, Guillaume from Paris in New-york. Keira & Guillaume spend the evening together & also the night. Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Sam finds it very difficult to resist the temptation that Eva offers him.

In the end, Sam sleeps with Eva & Keira with Alex.


Sam guilty as hell leaves his business trip, returns to New-your, hugs Keira & tells her that he loves her.



P.S. do two wrongs make a right?

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

movie review: Players.

Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Bipasha Basu, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Sonam Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Aftab Shivdasani, Sikhander Kher, Omi Vaidya, Johnny Lever, Vinod Khanna.


Director: Abbas Mustan



A copy of Italian Job. The difference is terrible acting, extra characters, 2.5hrs & a lil twist.



Abhishek walks around lyk a cool cat. Bipasha exposes cuz she does not know anything else. Sonam has always been stupid & hasn't changed this tym too. Neil was okay. Omi was irritating. Aftab does a blink-and-you-miss cameo. Bobby Deol.. who? Johnny Lever is no longer funny. Vinod Khanna should have retired. They say, it's always best to go out when you're on the top. Sikhander Kher, ah almost forgot.. yeah, he was there too.


Crowded, ryt?




P.S. While Italian Job was classic, Players is stupid.