Brothers (2015)

So this blog is as far away from my previous posts as it can get. It’s about a Mixed martial arts HINDI movie!

Brothers!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPOVJQZF4ak

I have always loved a good training movie- maybe, as it’s so hard for me to actually do it myself- vive le vicariousness!!!

Everyone does their role really well- and the fight director is pretty good. (example of a bad one would be from the TV show Quantico- someone help him/her!) (Though I love that Priyanka Chopra is a primetime ABC star)

I find it so interesting that I liked Brothers as I have always been boxing, WWF, UFC are senseless (read stupid) but somehow – I may have converted. I mean- How is this any different from anything else that gives you an adrenalin high? (expect maybe that someone is getting pounded to a pulp and maybe having a few bones broken!)

My favorite scenes from this (and this is surprisingly NOT a spoiler) are the training scene/song, the scene at the burial (notice I don’t tell you who’s) and the last scene with the flashbacks (this was so obviously meant to tug at the heart strings but they were brilliant at it and it did tug!!)

I am a bit disappointed it’s a copy of the Hollywood movie Warrior (8.2 on IMDB) but it has the Indian mirch masala (spice) added to it- obviously. I plan to watch that one too- 8.2 is seriously good from the holy grail of movie reviews- IMDB!!!

So the last book I read also had Cage fighting in it- The Rouge Lawyer by John Grisham.  I am guessing Mr. Grisham is actually a big fan as in the book he really goes to bat for it (Bat. Cage. Get it??) (Batting cage!!!) (Ha!)

The book is really good- VERY different from his other books. I think if 8 year olds can be taken to see cage fighting by their dads and it can’t be so bad- right? (so what if they are fictional??!!)

So the three Bollywood actors in it all have “pretty” (pun intended) interesting stories.

The dad- Jackie Shroff was always a favorite except he has become seriously debauched/ looking. See or don’t see “Boom” to be totally put off by him. He came from a really economically challenged family and his only qualifications were his looks. They served him well. Modeling (some questionable choices- google it- I refuse to put those images on my blog) but super confident. He started flirting with his now wife who was so enamored of him that despite coming from some sort of European royalty, offered to share him without whoever he wanted as long as she was part of this life, married him and what was most shocking to me was came from a huge mansion and lived in a one bedroom flat (with his extended family) that did not have a single bathroom!!! Small spaces doable- no bathroom………

BUT he became a big star and from all accounts has been the one guy you gave more than 10% of all earning s to charity and all street kids from a certain area had his private cell phone to reach him if they were in trouble. Hats off! (if I was wearing one that is)

His son is a body builder and a pretty good dancer but as he put it- the way I look and dance- everyone thinks I’m gay (though why that should matter I don’t know) He does dance “pretty” well- as chocolate box as you can get. Watch around one minute in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxMMoF9a8YA

Back to Brothers

Akshay Kumar: Has literally fought his way up! HA!

Martial arts, martial arts, martial arts. HA HA!

Has really re invented himself in Bollywood too- quite watchable now. Was a waiter in Hong Kong, then in some pretty awful movies and now…….

Married Twinkle Khanna- who is surprisingly witty! Acting was obviously not her forte- writing may be!

Siddharth Malhotra- what to say? Other that I had a SOTY phase for a good 6 months.

Soty?

Student of the year?

Ishq wala love?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7W8c-mFeG0

Anyway- am over it (sort of!!)

But then I still read YA fiction too!

All three kids from SOTY are really good actors though!

Siddharth Malhotra has really buffed up but then that seems to be a requirement in Bollywood Actors along with being able to look like you can dance and the ability to the Shah Rukh Khan hand spread!

The two actresses in Brothers don’t really deserve a mention BUT I shall, as I quite not like both!

Kareena Kapoor- reduced to item numbers. Maybe she will slowly stop acting!

Jacqueline Fernandez- why?

Would she do this role?

The people who dress down to garner accolades normally have a meaty role- not the role of meat with no dialouges!!!

Overall quite watchable!

BUT given my current unstoppable streak of bad puns- I shall leave it here!!!

The blog.

Good Night.

Happy Diwali (as it is as I write!!)

Sadqay Tumhare

After a long time I found a show that made me smile! A Lot.

Its supposed to be one of the more popular shows right now but after watching the first 2 episodes I could not imagine anyone liking the hero! And put it down to nothing better to watch! BUT……..

This was quite a well done show mostly because of its simplicity and pureness of feeling. Also it was soooo far away from the trappings of the oh so modern glitzy world and movies of today. The protagonists were not well off at all. But nobody was angsty about it- like most people are not!

A lot of this show was quite alien to me- divorces, casual breaking up of families and remarriages  – is it really that common in Pakistan?  What happens in this story sounds totally crazy- its like the reshuffling of pairs- did/does that really happen? And everyone meets and greets like nothings unusual?

I have a huge grouse with the show though- according to me they totally ruined it in the last episode

Now this is supposed to be TRUE story about the writer, Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar

 but given the numerous references to divine intervention, sensing people, dreaming about peoples actions and portrayal of peoples inner thinking- I for one and fairly skeptical about the claim.

And if artistic liberty was taken- they should have just continued it to the end – right? Its totally like they ran of steam and wanted to just finish it off!

Mahira Khan is an old favorite- from  Humsafar. Did her job fabulously but did not look like a 17 year old!

Adnan Malik was a new find- portrayed the role very well. I knew nothing aboutt him and did not look him up till I had finished it. In the show he played the role of a Lahore boy with strong village roots- quite well. So it was a shock to find out he is like a Pakistani Karan Johar- uber sophisticated and into fashion- though not catty like him! Hosts MTV shows etc etc.  He apparently studied Film as Vassar and his acting job is even more commendable given he hasn’t acted for many years

 I find it interesting that so many of the leading ladies and men in Pakistan have their undergrad in the US or UK but go back to Pakistan to the media world.

I am really curious about what society is like in Pakistan actually is like. I know first hand what is and what is portrayed by the media/ shows/ internationally are so often so different (Yes I am an indian woman and yes I feel safe in India- but that’s my experience.)

My next watch is Slackistan-  seems like a snapshot of life in Islamabad- will write about it.

I don’t regret watching this show but unlike Humsafar and Zindagi will not give it an 2 thumbs up- the last episode made it give mejust a half thumbs up.

So now for what has become my Takiya Kalam I have translated the song for you. It’s absolutely lovely and a joy to hear. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28Lg7CU7DwI

Its really quite interesting how I had heard all the words to this song earlier but its only when I am translating that I delve into the origins, the precise meanings etc- love it!

It’s sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan- classically trained and fabulous.

This song is pretty much equating love to an all consuming religious fervor.

A few comments before you read the translation:

The word “Hai re” means different things when used differently.  Sometimes it’s just an exclamation. It can be positive or negative.

It can be used as “Alas”: Hai re woh mar gaya: alas he has died.

In my translation I have used it as “Hai re = wow/ Sigh/ Oh” A word without much of a meaning but here it is positive exclamation, like a heartfelt sigh. It can be used romantically and it is in this song.

Now Sadqa:  complicated word- implies offering something to the gods (via fakirs/pirs) in the name of the person in questions. The ritual in hindus and muslims  both is to take something- many times money and wave it around someone’s head (clockwise) and then donate it.

Waari also means pretty much the same thing. Though in popular culture today its used more as sacrificing oneself for someone.

Shagan: probably derives from Shagun- which means good omen/tiding

ALERT***** I have to tell you- the meaning almost totally gets dissipated in the translation- it sounds inane rather than romantic. the beauty of the language and thr rhymes is what makes a song -  not just the meaning! Anyway- can't be helped :(

Sadqay Tumhare by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

English Translation of Lyrics of Sadqay Tumhare Song

Ishq pehle tha, ya aashiq pehle

Was love there first (exist first) or the lover

Aayen maashoq tau, aashiq behle

When the beloved comes then the lover is placated (calmed)

Ishq ke hath lage hain jab se

Since we have fallen into the hands of Love

Aise madhoosh phire hain tab se

We have roamed around intoxicated like this

Ishq dil ke dar pe yun aaya tha 

Love came to (knocked at) my heart’s door in such a way

Han aya tha ishq aya tha,

Yes he came, Love came

Sau ham nazar utarein

We cast off the evil eye a hundred times

Haye re hum sadqay tumhare

Oh, (/Wow/ Sigh), I offer myself for you

Haye re hum sadqay tumhare

Oh, I offer myself for you

Tumhare, tumhare sadqay tumhare

For you, for you, offer for you

Haye re hum sadqay tumhare

Oh, I offer myself for you
Haye re hum sadqay tumhare

Oh, I offer myself for you

Tere waari waari jaawan mere ishqan ishqan

I die over die over you, my Beloved, Beloved

Tere waari waari jaawan mere ishqan
I die over die over you, my Beloved

Teri khushiyan manawan tere shagan manawan

I celebrate your happiness, I will celebrate your good tidings

Mein te jaan qurban karan

I will sacrifice my life

Tere waari waari jaawan mere ishqan ishqan

I die over die over you, my Beloved, Beloved

Tere waari waari jaawan mere ishqan
I die over die over you, my Beloved

Ishq ka aik hi wird hai

Love only has one chant (religious implication from sufi-ism)

Ishq mashooq ke gird hai

Love is close to the beloved

Ishq ka aik hi wird hai

Love only has one chant

Ishq mashooq ke gird hai

Love is close to the beloved

Kyun hai bechain ye tabiyat

Why do I feel so restless/edgy

Ishq hai ya ye dard hai

Is it love or is it pain

Is traha aaj mile hain sab se

I have met everyone is such a manner today-

Dhoondty hain kya hum aisa jagg se

What is it that I search for in the World

Ishq dil ke dar pe yun aaya tha 

Love came to (knocked at) my heart’s door in such a way

Han aya tha ishq aya tha,

Yes he came, Love came

Sau ham nazar utarein

We cast off the evil eye a hundred times

Haye re hum sadqay tumhare

Oh, I offer myself for you

Haye re hum sadqay tumhare

Oh, I offer myself for you

Tumhare, tumhare sadqay tumhare

For you, for you, offer for you

Haye re hum sadqay tumhare

Oh, I offer myself for you
Haye re hum sadqay tumhare

Oh, I offer myself for you

Tere waari waari jaawan mere ishqan ishqan

I die over die over you, my Beloved, Beloved

Tere waari waari jaawan mere ishqan
I die over die over you, my Beloved

Tere waari waari jaawan mere ishqan ishqan

I die over die over you, my Beloved, Beloved

Tere waari waari jaawan mere ishqan
I die over die over you, my Beloved

Subr ka naam tak na sunay

Refuses to hear the name of patience

Apna anjaam tuk na sunay

Refuses to hear it’s own fate

Subr ka naam tuk na sunay

Refuses to hear the name of patience

Apna anjaam tuk na sunay

Refuses to hear it’s own fate

Ishq ne kaan main kaha youn

Love whispered in my ear in such a way

Sun ke kuch bhi na hum rahe

That on hearing it I became nothing (got blown away)

Ishq ke mordh mure hain jab say

Since we have turned the turn to/of Love

Hosh hawaas uray hain tab se

I have lost my senses

Ishq dil ke dar pe yun aaya tha 

Love came to (knocked at) my heart’s door in such a way

Han aya tha ishq aya tha,

Yes he came, Love came

Sau ham nazar utarein

We cast off the evil eye a hundred times

Haye re hum sadqay tumhare

Oh, I offer myself for you

Haye re hum sadqay tumhare

Oh, I offer myself for you

Tumhare, tumhare sadqay tumhare

For you, For you, offer for you

Haye re hum sadqay tumhare

Oh, I offer myself for you
Haye re hum sadqay tumhare

Oh, I offer myself for you

Hope you enjoyed. Any insights into any of this- please let me know via comments!

IPPKND Iss Pyar Ko Kya Naam Doon

                                                                                                 

This blog is sort of long due- more than 3 years! It’s like exposing a shameful secret- but I am confident many a women like me are guilty of this!

I actually was totally addicted to a Hindi soap!!! " Iss pyar ko Kya Naam Doon"

So I used to see all these posts on FB about it and was like "Seriously??!!"  -till I started watching it- and pretty much did not sleep one week straight while watching it!

And what is interesting was I knew soooooooooo many friends and family who were as addicted!!

And it was and strangely still is a bit of a worldwide phenomena!!!! There was a surge against Star TV when they cancelled the show!

If you see the basic story line- quite a typical MB (Mills & Boon) - angry rude domineering rich guy, poor good beautiful girl. And that’s supposed to be attractive to a woman? A thinking woman?

Which made me wonder why? What differentiated it?

So what it was, was basically the chemistry between the lead pair and the writing.

It was their acting- and the laughs - it was really funny and really sexy.

As I have mentioned in earlier posts what keeps the audience hooked is anticipation! The leads were always interrupted somehow. When you are invested in something esp. a love story you really want to see something that looks like “The End” but if the show can plausibly not have that happen the audience is not going anywhere!

So, the male lead was Barun Sobti- a college drop out from West Delhi but obviously a hard worker.  You can tell in the difference in his acting from serial to serial! What was interesting was he is an ideal example of you are what your experiences make you.

He apparently worked at a call center for a few years and then acted in a few soaps before IPKKND.

When the craze started a lot of people looked up his old serials- all I can say is the new look and not smiling suits him a LOT better.

You judge:

From:

To: 

SO the call center explains his accent. What's interesting is that how you speak very often defines how sophisticated you come across as and while probably before the call center job he didn't sound like he was polished he does now. Which is sad right? That one finds a more Anglicized accent more attractive? What about inner beauty?

There is this whole thing where nobody know his height and he is married to his childhood sweetheart and so does not do any Kissing scenes- much to the disappointment of the IPPKND fan club!

So in the Indian cinema and serial the whole take on what’s acceptable on screen has been fairly hypocritical.

A guy and girl and make out, wearing wet skimpy cloths but it perfectly acceptable as long as they don’t kiss on the lips- that’s unacceptable! Hello- what about the rest of the soft porn going on?

Or if a couple falls in love and suddenly the woman is pregnant! It seriously screwed up sex Ed for a lot young people!

Anyway getting back to the show it was really weird and so if you see clips it comes across as REALLY weird- not the typical idea of romance but it just was!!!

Sanaya Irani  the woman lead- is almost the opposite of Barun Sobti. Did not know Hindi till she started acting in soaps. And learns all her Hindi dialogues phonetically in English. She plays a small town Hindi speaking girl- phenomenally in this!

Her look also evolved- the transformation story always works!!

From: 

To:  

A lot of fan wanted her to break up with the boyfriend to get together with Barun Sobti!

Actually- I have always wondered when a pair of actors have amazing chemistry on screen- it must come from an actual attraction even if you don’t admit it! I guess that’s why so many actors start going out with or have affairs with co-workers!

I mean according to this new study you can fall in love with somebody even if it forced by sharing intimate information and staring into each other eyes! Actors are like that!

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/fashion/modern-love-to-fall-in-love-with-anyone-do-this.html?_r=0

The show went a bit downhill when Barun Sobti started acting in the movie “Main aur Mr. Riight” Pretty much one of the crappiest movies I ever saw except- thankfully for Barun Sobti’s acting- he really has become a very good actor now! In IPKKND they kept changing the story line to accommodate his schedule but as the show was basically the interaction between the two leads it lost its zing,

Then the "zing" came back for a bit when he finished shooting but the show lost its charm soon after and then when Barun Sobti decided to concentrate on Movies Star shut it down!

I am looking forward to seeing his other movies. Hopefully they will have halfway decent co actors and director etc.! One is "22 Yards" Don't have high hopes for that and the other something with John Abraham's production house. Lets see.

Star plus has very foolishly in my opinion removed all fan mash ups of the Rabba Ve. In todays world if you don’t let the fans contribute you alienate them. Would have loved to put a video here.

The amount of fan fiction about them is also crazy!

The next two parts are a spoiler alert- if you haven’t seen the show- don’t read. This is the funniest forwards I received about the show. No idea who wrote it so unfortunately cannot pass on credit- not original by me- but its sooooooo funny. Meant for people “in the know”

Arnav: I just met Khushi.

Some Person: Who?

A: A chick.

SP: Nice.

A: Not really. I hate humans in general and Khushi in particular.

SP: Why?

A: Humans because of my tragic past that nobody knows about yet and this chick because she is a corporate spy.

SP: Really?

A: Maybe not. But she is a gold-digger.

SP: Do you have proof?

A: Not yet.

SP: So what do you plan to do?

A: Give her a job in my company and make her take measurements of hot dudes.

SP: That is punishing her?

A: Oh, I almost killed her by sending her into a crumbling building.

SP: What?!

A: But I rescued her.

SP: You sure like to create a mess and then fix it.

A: That is what she says.

SP: Then?

A: She quit the job.

SP: How shocking?!

A: Anyway, she is now working in my house.

SP: Doing what?

A: I am unsure. I guess she is my punching bag. I practice all my insults on her.

(Fight, fight, bicker, bicker)

(6 months later)

A: It is possible that she is not a gold-digger.

SP: Great. Now you like her?

A: No. She believes in God and destiny.

SP: So?

A: I like to play God.

SP: Fine. Ignore her.

A: I Cannot.

SP: Why not?

A: Because she is clumsy.

SP: Eh?

A: Yes, she is always falling into my arms and her dupatta is always grabbing me.

SP: I see. What happens then?

A: There is some pretty intense background music that plays and a strand of hair covers her eyes that I feel compelled to push behind her ears.

SP: Do you enjoy this?

A: Yes, but then I remember I hate her.

SP: What do you do then?

A: Grab her by her shoulders and sometimes hurt her also.

SP: Poor girl. What happens next?

A: She begins to cry and I feel sad. But I don't apologise.

SP: Why not?

A: Because I don't apologise. Plus, I remember that I hate her.

SP: What the..

A: What the indeed! She just got engaged to some other dude.

SP: So? Aaapko kya faraq padtha hain?

A: How can she? I mean, I am the one who almost kissed her and then said hurtful things to her.

SP: Umm. Didn't you agree to marry some chick too?

A: That is different. I take my decisions using my head, she with her heart. I am not attached to my chick; she is probably attached to her dude.

SP: Have you told her how you feel?

A: No. I haven't yet admitted my feelings to myself.

SP: You have some problems.

A: Whatever. Hey, I just broke up with my chick. Or the chick just broke up with me. I am unsure. It is because of Khushi. I think. Also, Khushi's engagement is off.

SP: Great. Now tell her.

A: Nope. I just rubbed her failed engagement on her face and broke her heart a little more.

SP: What is wrong with you? Go hug her and tell her that her that the pain will go away.

A: Do you know this one time when her dad was almost going to die, I went to meet her at the hospital. She hugged me, but I didn't hug back.

SP: You are douchey, aren't you?

A: Yes, but I have a sad past. Plus, I am so hot.

SP: What about her?

A: Let that be, K and I just managed to play matchmaker and our siblings are getting married.

SP: Wow! So you guys are friends now?

A: What crap?! But I have challenged her to a dancing bet.

SP: Wait… you dance?

A: Nope. But that is not the point. I have to, have to win.

SP: This is disturbing.

A: Whatever. Hey, she won the bet. But I may have won her heart.

SP: Wow! How?

A: I danced with her because she didn't look too bad in a green sari.

SP: Great! Now tell her how you feel.

(Wedding rituals… banter.. kissing bet.. bangle buying..  love and longing... faraq padtha hain kyonki...)

A: Today is the wedding, I will tell her.

SP: Yay!

(a few hours later)

A: I hate Khushi.

SP: Oh no! Not again. Did she turn you down?

A: Worse. She is in love with someone else.

SP: That is sad.

A: The worst part is he is my brother-in-law and now she is a homebreaker and wrecking my sister's happiness.

SP: Maybe you should speak with her. Seeing is not always believing, you know? Plus, you have misunderstood her in the past too.

A: No conversation necessary. I hate her from the bottom of my heart. And to think I laughed twice because of her.

SP: Wait. You have a heart.

*stony silence*

SP: Okay, okay. Don't be mad. You can still fix this. Just stay away from her now.
(a few hours later)

A: I have fixed this.

SP: Great! What did you do?

A: I forced her to marry me. That is what I did.

SP: What the?!

And to end it I will leave you with the funniest video EVER about the show- a Chinese (I am guessing) fan video- you have to watch!!!!!!! As I said the story comes across as weird if you havent actually watched it- and if you read the translations you will know what I mean! You may need to click on the ink below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWp1ebAWEIQ

Hope to write soon! Do comment- I love hearing from you!