its not all bad

after staying a while here in india, i have learnt a few things... a few VERY inportant things... life is not all that bad.... its not even all that complicated... and its only as messed up as you want it to be... being here in this place.... this apparent chaos... you see people live in it with tranquility... and you also see how people survive here with minimum finances.... and you take a step back and compare yourself... and find that you are one of those really lucky ones who doesnt have to struggle with these sorts of hardships. and it somehow people find themselves at peace in a city that doesnt shut up for a single second, why the hell is my life so screwed up when i am surrounded by nothing but peace and order... and its never too late to simplify everything..... break down the complex equations and live it all with peace.... anyways... wedding is getting very close... and i got a lot of stuff to do 2moro...

Sankalp Dave

Movie review: taare zameen par (तारे ज़मीन पर)

well, today, i had the opportunity to go check out this much talked about movie.... all the publicity has been making it look really awesome.... so i thought i would go see if it really is all that....

just to give you a quick run down, it is a brilliant movie directed by aamir khan who also happens to play a role in the film. the film is a story of Ishaan Awasthi, An eight-year old dyslexic child who has difficulties in reading, writing and understanding letters, words and sentences. His world is filled with wonders that no one else seems to appreciate; colours, fish, dogs and kites are just not important in the world of adults, who are much more interested in things like homework, marks and neatness. And Ishaan just cannot seem to get anything right in class. For that he gets punished every time.

When he gets into far more trouble than his parents can handle, he is packed off to a boarding school to ‘be disciplined’. Things are no different at his new school, and Ishaan has to contend with the added trauma of separation from his family.

One day a new art teacher Ram Shankar Nikumbh (aamir khan) bursts onto the scene, who infects the students with joy and optimism. Nikumbh soon realizes that Ishaan is very unhappy, and he sets out to discover why.

Yes, that’s the story of the film…. But the film is more than the story per se. The film belongs to the performances of Aamir as the ultra-sensitive art teacher who was dyslexic himself and sees his own image in the child. It belongs to Tisca Chopra’s portrayal of the mother who loves her child and is exasperated with him in equal measure.

However, more than anything, it belongs to Darsheel Safary as Ishan, who silently conveys turmoil, glee, wonder, anger and carries the film on the strength of his performance alone.

At that level, it is a intensely human film that tells us a very human story.No item numbers, no heroine, no songs in Switzerland. And it works ! Bravo, Aamir Khan, producer, director and actor of “Taare Zameen Par” ! In fact, the only drawbacks in the movie were the caricatures of some characters, like Mr. Awasthi, the father, and the boarding school teachers (who apart from Aamir Khan, are made to look like either buffoons or cruel sadists). The high achieving elder brother however, is not a caricature, thankfully !

Some facts about this movie:

Taare Zameen Par opened with 425 prints across India. The initial Box Office response was low the film quickly picked up due to strong positive review from both critics & audience. The Director Aamir Khan has posted in his official website that he's been informed by the movie distribution team of PVR that this movie is headed for the biggest grosser of the year.

IndiaFM has awarded the movie 4 out of 5 reels saying "TAARE ZAMEEN PAR isn't one of those films that merely entertains, but also enlightens." and "On the whole, TAARE ZAMEEN PAR is an outstanding work of cinema. To miss it would be sacrilege. It has everything it takes to win awards and box-office rewards!". The gross first week collection of TZP is INR 16 Crore in India

Rajeev Masand of CNN-IBN has stated "Taare Zameen Par may change your life" giving it a positive review.

I loved this movie. Its the sort of movie which anyone can relate to on a personal level... and it will definately bring tears to your eyes atleast once..... so i would score this movie 9 out of 10.

update from ahmedabad

man..... this place has changed heaps since the last time i was here 5 years ago.... i have been here now for just one week.... and already, i can point out so many things that have changed here... firstly, its scary to admit this... but i no longer feel like i know this city... on the way here to the place i am staying from the airport, i had absolutely no idea where i was.... all i knew was that there were roads and stuff.... but i had no idea where i was.... at all... and thats scary... the first couple of days, it used to annoy the hell out of me anytime anybody honked.... and trust me, there is a lot of that here... and besides, this city is NEVER quiet.... not even in the middle of the night.... there is always something going on all the time... but now, i think i am used to all the honking... this city has grown heaps though.... there used to be this club that we used to go to all the time..... its called rajpat club.... it was out there on the highway in the middle of nowhere... all that was surrounding it was wilderness... but when i went there this time around..... (i was actually headed to a wedding reception which just happened to be down the road) that area has developed heaps now... there are 2 huge multiplexes... and a huge reliance mall.... and also a big bazaar... lol... that place is unrecognizable now... also another good thing about ahmedabad.... since the introduction of the CNG auto rickshaws, the pollution fog every morning and evening is now gone.... one thing i am really satisfied about is the food.... it sure feels good to eat the properly spicy will burn your mouth type of food again.... and that was one thing i used to miss heaps about this place.... the awesome tasting yummy yummy food...

anyways, thats all i have for now.. will keep you updated...

Laters...

almost time for me to go

looking at my countdown timer here shows that i have exactly 4 days, 19 hours, 33 minutes before i leave for india..... so thought i would post what could be my last entry for this year.... looking back, i would have to admit, that the majority of this year has been pretty bad for me.... i have had it really rough this year..... and the dream year i saw coming for me this year basically fell apart into a million different pieces for me pretty early on. but after hitting such a low, there is possible only one way forward and that is up....... so being the optimistic i am, i am gonna look at the glass as half full and appreciate the things i have. the friends and family who have stuck with me through this time...... and not concentrate too much on those with whom i have parted ways. those that i want to thank, already know who they are. had it not been for them, i dont know where i would be today. Anyways, moving right along. india..... ahmedabad.... my second time going back there since i moved to new zealand and my first time in 5 years. oh boy.... things certainly have changed.... a lot.... best to keep moving with the times eh. its less than 5 days to go now... and i have a LOT to do. so many people to meet.... and at this time, i am being an insomniac being up at 2:30 in the morning.

oh well, best wrap this up. incase i have no internet/time for internet available in india, i best say this now before its too late...

to all my friends out there..... a VERY merry christmas and a happy new year..... you all take good care of yourself and ill see you all back here in the new years....

Laters
Sankalp

The Free Hugs campaign

This is one man's (Juan Mann) way of changing the whole world. Just would like to say congratulations. Sometimes, all of us need a free hug..... watch the video, you will know what i mean. hope this inspires you to do something to make this orld a better place as it has inspired me.

Exams over

well, the title says it all.... my exams are over.... YAY!!! ..... oh well... time for party.... its tension free time now.... so much to do.... so little time before i bugger off from this country for a while.... oh well, better start now eh??

the New 1 million dollar lamborghini

Lamborghini has released a new car..... again.... man these audi lambo people have been busy lately.... buty whatever the reason.... the fact is that lamborghini have released a brand new car..... and it costs a million bucks.... the car was revealed this year at the frankfurt autoshow and is set for production in 2008..... all the 20 units set for production are already pre-ordered. the name of this brand new invention is Lamborghini Reventon. Inspired by jet fighter design, words are not enough to describe this beauty. so rather than me explaining to you what it looks like, i thought i would just post a video here and let you see it for yourself.... lemme know what you think.... and as always.... Enjoy

Sankalp

The modern india

Welcome to modern india..... this is what we did with a country that so many people find it so easy to badmouth... my home... my life...... the place i belong.... INDIA!!!!






Enjoy
Sankalp

a bit pi*sed off

i am so mad at a certain someone right now that words cannot even begin to describe it.... and over on top of that.... she STILL wont stop lying to me.... thinking that if she tries to make it sound convincing, i wont know the truth. and why am i doing all this?? just because i care about her.... a little too much if you ask me... maybe i should just stop caring.... dont tell her anything... see how she feels then.... for all i know... she probably wont even care.... oh well.... she can go if she wants to.... there are always more of them out there....


Till next time...

Sankalp

pay it forwards

pay it forwards...... it was a good movie.... for those who dont know what it was about, let me just quickly fill you in.... the whole moral of that movie is that if someone does something for you, rather than just returning the favour to the person, you pay it forwards three times. that way, this world will be a better place......

ok, so now we come back to present.... enough of the movie recap. i have tried and tested this method...... and all i can say is that, when you do good unto others, it feels good..... but this is a risky game..... coz sometimes, the problems are tricky..... and you dont always have the best answers.... especially when it involves a person's life.... but doing something is better than doing nothing..... this is atrap yaar..... if you do something and things go wrong, you feel bad coz you might think its all your fault.... if you dont do anything and something bad happens, you still feel bad coz you didnt do anything to change it when you had the chance.... but oh well, we are all humans right.... no one is perfect.... so what we have here is a tricky situation...... what to do??

any ideas anyone??

Sankalp