Way to go gal!

If rumors were to be believed, the Slumdog millionaire fame Frieda Pinto is to play Daniel’s Craig’s gal in the next bond flick tentatively name Bond 23. She has been called for a screening and believed to be under scrutiny of the casting crew since Quantum of Solace.

That will be one great news for the Indian cinema fraternity. Freida Pinto has also been cast in Woody Allen’s latest movie, shooting of which is scheduled mid this year. She is the next to join the few who have made already made appearances in Hollywood flicks.

Well, thinking of it, life is all about surprises and opportunities - few taken, few missed. The key is to keep moving in the direction your heart leads and to prepare yourself better for the next opportunity life surprise you with. The mantra is to set priorities and understand what makes you happy and go for it!

Jai ho...

Hearty congratulations to A R Rehman and all those connected to the much acclaimed Slumdog millionaire. As I was reading the news from the red carpet I chanced to read a small opinion article of that of Aadesh Srivastava (music director in Bollywood). He, like few other critics, appear to be furious at the movie and the fact that India through Mumbai has been shone in the bad light to the extent that foreigners have started calling Indians the slumdogs!

Chill Mr. Srivastava! You stay in Bombay. Ever heard of Dharavi? By playing ostrich you cannot ignore the ground realities. Let’s stop being hypocrites and give the movie its due credit.

And about people regarding us slumdogs… please excuse them..for they aren’t well traveled or well read (I am sure or rather hope the percentage of such people isn’t high). Probably they don’t know that their own comrades find India attractive enough to be here on a vacation, business or even life long stay!

Your anger is genuine to an extent; but your statement that you will never get associated with any project which shows India in poor light…if it at all happens..Bravo! But these things should rather be left to situation, if you were given a chance to be a part of a project which means international fame, would you leave it? Well, you need to think about it.

Anyways, India is the most beautiful country in the world. And there’s no denying that. For people making opinions sitting miles across…God bless…

Jai ho!

Fame & Shame

What a start to 2009! On one hand we have the Indian industry’s biggest fraudulent case coming to light and there on the other hand we our very own Dilip Kumar a.k.a A R Rehman earning glory on the international stage by bagging the Golden Globe award for Best Original Music Score for 'Slumdog Millionaire', a rags-to-riches story of a Mumbai slumdweller.

I almost fell of the chair when I read online news about Satyam reading “I didn't pay much attention to balance sheet says Satyam CFO”.!!!! When did the abbreviation CFO become Chief Fun Officer, I wonder! No seriously, I found the statement really funny. I met few people who are darn worried about their investments but on the contrary there are people who still think things can only get better. Well only time will tell.

I have wanted to read Q&A book by Vikas Swarup (Slumdog millionaire has been inspired by this movie) for sometime now. Incidentally, only recently I finished reading 6 suspects, another book by Vikas Swarup. This book talks about the murder of a corrupted son of a equally corrupted politician who gets away with anything be it be drunken driving over innocent pedestrian dwellers or even a daylight muder of a bar girl who refuses to give him a drink beyond bar timings. This book portrays the sorry state of the country where even delayed justice favors the influential thus tramping over the innocent. Tragically enough most of the incidents are pictures of real life scenario.

Getting to talking about the proud moment of watching AR Rehman holding the globe award and thanking billion people back home, I wonder how he and his family is reacting when I, a mere fan is so overjoyed. He probably wouldn’t have dreamt of coming this far himself when he started his musical career. But it is his creativity, the ability to connect with mass with his versatile kind of music that is making him more successful and more popular. I really wish that he wins the Oscar too…now wouldn’t that be great!

On that happy note, let me get back to finishing the book I am currently reading… The Choice, by Nicholas Spark. I am at a sad juncture of the story hoping everything turns fine afterall I am all a happy story ending person, you see :)