India's maiden mission to Mars, the Mangalyaan, is three days from creating history. On the 24th, when ISRO scientists fire off her engines to coax her into Mars' orbit, scientists will be hoping to succeed in the first attempt, something no other country has achieved earlier.
Just so you know, the spacecraft is currently around 225 million km away from Earth. And at 70 million, it cost around 1/10th of other similar spacecrafts from America.
Terrifying horror stories wrapped up in two sentences or less:
1.
I woke up to hear knocking on glass. At first, I thought it was the window until I heard it come from the mirror again.
2.
The last thing I saw was my alarm clock flashing 12:07 before she pushed her long rotting nails through my chest, her other hand muffling my screams. I sat bolt upright, relieved it was only a dream, but as I saw my alarm clock read 12:06, I heard my closet door creak open.
3.
In all of the time that I've lived alone in this house, I swear to God I've closed more doors than I've opened.
4.
A girl heard her mom yell her name from downstairs, so she got up and started to head down. As she got to the stairs, her mom pulled her into her room and said "I heard that, too."
5.
My wife woke me up last night to tell me there was an intruder in our house. She was murdered by an intruder 2 years ago.
6.
I always thought my cat had a staring problem - she always seemed fixated on my face. Until one day, when I realized that she was always looking just behind me.
7.
There's nothing like the laughter of a baby. Unless it's 1 a.m. and you're home alone.
8.
I begin tucking him into bed and he tells me, "Daddy, check for monsters under my bed." I look underneath for his amusement and see him, another him, under the bed, staring back at me quivering and whispering, "Daddy, there's somebody on my bed."
9.
You get home, tired after a long day's work and ready for a relaxing night alone. You reach for the light switch, but another hand is already there.
10.
There was a picture in my phone of me sleeping.
I live alone.
It has shades of the hunger games. A bunch of young guys, stranded in the middle of a strange, dangerous and massive maze from where there seems no way out. They have spent three years there, mapping out the maze, but no closer to getting out. Until, one day, a new boy arrives, and questions their rules. Can he lead them out, or is he going to invite terrible consequences unto themselves?
What starts with some great promise, soon gets stretched, without the action really taking off. The promise is left unrealized.
And of course, there is no Katniss to light up the dull greys.
Watchable, but not a must see!
So this Teacher's Day was very different, right? Our very own PM hooked up with millions of kids all over the country, sharing anecdotes and advice, answering question and having a great time.
A lot was made out of it, and dozens of invited experts sliced and diced it on those "intelligent" debates at prime time. The questions were planted, they smirked. He is ignoring the plight of teachers, others complained. The spokesman of a national party was even ignorant enough to attribute an oft-quoted saying about teaching to him.
But next day, when I went to Crossword, and saw half a dozen kids, including mine, with their parents, searching for autobiographies to read, because Modi Sir had asked them to, did the impact of this exceptional leader become crystal clear to me.
For those who missed the speech, do check it out in YT. I am sure its there. And pick up some messages we all need to pass on to ourselves, and then our children...
Love the environment.
Help your parents save on electricity bills.
Stay clean, don't just throw around your school bag.
See the sunrise and the moonlight.
Get sweaty at least four times a day.
Do your bit for the country by being good students.
Be naughty, don't lose the child in you.
Read. Read. Read. Anything.
Hats off to you, Modi sir!
Two common criminals in search of some quick money get more than they bargained for after kidnapping the wife of a rich, corrupt businessman, who has no interest in paying the million dollar ransom.
The movie is one of those types that you really need a lot of patience to enjoy.
Unless of course, you are a fan of the eternally pretty Jennifer Aniston and my fav, Isla Fischer.
Inspired by the legendary con artist who once sold the Taj Mahal, RN features Emraan Hashmi, his Pakistani co-actor Humaima and the indefatigable Paresh Rawal, pulling off a hard-to-believe con on their nemesis played by Kay Kay Menon.
Any reason you should watch it? Nopes.
If you saw Kids in the 90s, this could very well be the story of those children just half a decade years later. While the shy striker of the college team, April, negotiates the taboo of an affair with her single-dad football coach, who she frequently babysits for, her classmates are struggling with their own battles with alcohol, drugs and sex, quickly spiralling out of their control.
This is an R rated movie, but if you are an Emma Roberts fan, you don't want to miss this!
If you want to get an interesting look behind the scenes of the spelling bees that're such a rage among the Indian community in the US, this one is for you. Nothing special, but watchable.
"Inspired by real life incidents" from the life of India's lady Mohammad Ali, Mary Kom, the movie falls below the benchmark set by Farhan's Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Though I am not a fan of that movie, either, it did feel a lot more intense. MK, in comparison, is a predictable, feel good caper, only held up by the attractive Priyanka Chopra.
There is one undeniable reason you need to watch this one. My niece Samah in a seven second appearance as the beautiful child avatar of the lead actress :)
GP is the very relatable story of what happens to a marriage and a woman's career when she gives birth to a child. The movie is predictable, and at times, especially at the start, is a little amateurish in treatment. But it picks up well 20-25 mins into the story, and is held up extremely well by the lead, Sai Tamhankar, in a very commendable double role, as the stubborn, impulsive mother Pournima, and her bubbly, sensitive daughter, Akanksha. The scene in which she confronts her daughter, played by herself, will bring a tear to your eyes.
The LKP waterfront disc in Nerul, my village in Goa, is also featured in a song sequence and appears absolutely beautiful and surreal.
Produced by friends from Goa, the movie also features a bunch of folks I am personally acquainted with, which makes the experience a lot more interesting to me!
Should you watch it? Yes, please :)
One of the most talked about movies before its release, with multiple private screenings and an interesting social media strategy (although they should have worked with me for best impact :)) does Homi Adajania's Finding Fanny live up to its hype?
I wasn't much excited about it after seeing the promos, but the lure of Goa ensured I went to catch it at Inox this Friday.
I admit, I came back thrilled.
The story is simple... An old man in search of his childhood crush, to find out, would she have accepted him had he proposed to her. He is accompanied by an oddball set of characters, each really on a journey in search of love in their own crazy way.
What makes the movie stand out is the offbeat treatment - a blend of shock and poignancy, beauty and the romanticism of a Goa hidden behind the curtains of time. The unique language, the live sounds of a Goan village, the atmospherics. The beautiful photography that captures Goa at its monsoon best. Deepika's absolutely stunning village girl avatar. Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur and Dimple Kapadia in some really stand out roles which will be remembered for a long time. The cat.
Bollywood redefined. Don't miss it.
