Review: 300 Rise of an Empire [2014] English

No. This was neither a sequel nor a prequel to 300 but what I could term as a Sidequel ie the events happen around the same time of Leonidas and his men's heroics against Xerxes, the one with an embellished attire. What 300 missed to present, was covered in The Rise, viz., how the mighty and fearful Xerxes came into being and what made him and his Commander"ess" seek seething revenge against the Greeks.  This part has been exquisitely interwoven into the main stream story of The Rise.  Action, blood and gore right from the word go with some terrific hard beat pulsating background score and stunning visuals with a rare blend of light effects sums up The Rise.  Unforgettable was the 3D effect when Xerxes walks out to address his people, unforgettable are most of the scenes that were shot on the seas.  Dialogues were good too..the one that I remember "Better we show them, we chose to die on our feet, rather than live on our knees".  I found The Rise better than the 300 for its music, for its action and for its script.  Save some aberrations of bringing in colloquial English into the film, for example, a couple of words that end with "k" and a by now ubiquitous sentimental "son" wanting to fight with "dad" with only one of them surviving, the movie is worth a dekho.  If blood, gore, cut heads and a stereophonic acoustic of "kresh " that you get to hear when Steel cuts through flesh or "liquid droops" read "blood droops" is not your cuppa....you could give this a miss for sure...But if you are upto it, then you could well make your way into the theaters.  Ofcourse, the best place in town Screen 4 @Prazads, Hyderabad for its Dolby Atmos effects.  I would classify this second to probably "Gladiator" for its screenplay and edge of the seat theatrics and would safely give it a 4 on 5.  

Review - Pompeii (English) 2014

A quick Trailer watch or a look at a few posters would surely set you thinking of the "Mother of All" action movies viz., Gladiator and if Pompeii, a new historical-kitsch disaster movie, was Gladiator 2 with some flower pottish Mt Vesuvius volcano thrown in as a masala element.  So it was Gladiator (2D) vs Pompeii (3D).  Even with several scenes lifted straight from the Original, Pompeii was a big big let down.  Poorly shot, with some very predictable twists (?) or the lack of them, cheesy dialogues, crass acting, terrible screenplay, the hero and the herione never die or will to the last minute despite the fiery explosion of Mt. Vesuvius spewing cauldrons of fire all around but save on them and of course the villain (there has to be a one on one last scene fight, No) sums up Pompeii.  Visual effects $^%&**$$ (my favourite expletives)  MY FOOT, were much much to be desired.  The problem I guess was comparing Pompeii with the benchmark that Russel Crowe, the amazing star cast and the story laid out by Gladiator. As is the universal law, every sequel of a movie is much less impressive than the previous one, Pompeii lives up to the expectation of a Gladiator IV or even V. You would do well by giving this a miss for sure....

Review : Movie 1 Nenuokkadine – meaning (1 - I am Alone) – Telugu 2014 Starring Mahesh Babu, Heroine: Idontknowhoo.

1 Nenuokkadine – meaning (1 - I am Alone) – Telugu Movie 2014 Starring Mahesh Babu, Heroine: Idontknowhoo.   So to give company to our Lone-Alone Hero Super Star Mahesh Babu, two other stars viz, Sharan and “yours truly” joined to run alongside him in one of the innumerable races that he indulges in throughout the close to 3 hours flick.  (See picture attached). There have been a good number of reviews already on FB and other media…but as is customary, I am offering mine.

Our Hero suffers from delusion and its complexities.  “What is” and “What is not” is something that he grapples with as the audience is transported into a make believe world of a psycho-thriller.  Plot seemingly inherited from the likes of the Bourne Series with twists to suit the Indian/Telugu mindset, the movie takes one through some real serious stuff.  It is bold, it is experimental and plotted differently.   However, the movie suffers from one chase too many…a 10 min chase on the seas, and multiple 10 min chases on roads, bikes, cars as also on foot.  It also suffers from one song too many.  Formulaic as it may seem ie 3 song and dance sequences before the interval and 3 post, it could well have done with one absorbed into the Titles in the beginning and another towards the Credits end so as to retain the seriousness of the subject or the pace.  Songs are forgettable and the background score…nothing much to write home about.   Thankfully, no Comedy track.  Our hero, true to his nature does not smile keeping the backdrop in mind…no Brahmanandam..(can you believe it !!!!).  

Now, we would be stunned by the “Wowness” if the goody chasing the baddies are shown in a Bond movie, but this kind of “Ahaaness” or “Wowness” escapes us in this movie despite the engagement being of an excellent quality.  Reason, I thought was the un-realism. Our Indian Heros do not die, they cannot be killed by Machine Guns and  high impact car crashes cannot hurt them..…they are capable of “Rat – tat- tatting” multiple rounds of blazing shooting from a teeny weeny pistol all amidst 10 other baddies shooting at our Subject in a concentrated mode using the most sophisticated weapons.  I guess, if this bit is addressed, our guys can churn out good palatable realistic movies matching Hollywood. 

There is one particular scene, where, a fellow shoots from a floor below onto a higher floor (at a possibly 60 deg angle) with the subject standing so far away that a straight line trajectory would miss him by miles.  However,  the bullet, with a mind of its own, as if it were a Guided missile homes in on its target.  A case for our Daya and CID to solve…Will be curious how our CID would tell umpteen times…”Goli yehin se chali hogi..iska matlab…” while stating the obvious but would never be able to get to the bottom of it and would perhaps attribute the death to the use of a supernatural futuristic weapon and solve the case.

I also did not like one of the best macho stars around in Tollywood being addressed as “Doodoo”.  It kind of took away the image…Not sure if he was being addressed in a “Teluguised version of “Dude”.

It actually depends on how you look at it..through one colored glass, the movie appears to be good and through some other it fares as “Passable”.   My son said…”Dad..it was not a pleasant movie” while my wifey remarked.. “I did not see my favorite hero Smile..”  I would give it a 3 out of 5. 

Willing the Mind to Exercise everyday

Willing the Mind to Exercise everyday

This blog is not about expounding on the virtues of exercising every day, but more about how to get yourselves to do it !!!  These ofcourse are my personal thoughts that kind of worked for me.  At the cost of me being a plagiarist, you might get a feeling:  Oh yes, I read about these tips in some book…..but probably never ever put them to practice.   Here goes:

1.       The Positive Imaging technique:  Those who have gone on a morning walk or to the gym for a few days would for sure have felt good through the day.  An experience of a spring in your step  or a smile on your face or the feel of feeling good would have followed suit.  Albeit the pain for the first few days, your legs would have gotten used and would have worked like a well oiled machine in the following days.  Positive imaging is all about imagining yourself for the rest of the day and how good you felt the previous day post exercising.   This imagination more often than not helps to shrug of the early morning inertia and prevent one from hitting the snooze button…

2.       It is all in the mind – Trick it:  Perhaps the toughest part of the regimen or before the daily regimen is getting out of bed from your happy happy snuggle snuggle position.  It is probably those few seconds when you trick your mind into submission of not getting back into bed and the think of positive imaging…Keep your alarm clock not by your bedside but a distance away..which will force you to get up drag your feet to the clock.  By this time you would have lost part of your sleep, by this time you would have tricked your mind into positive imaging, by this time you probably  thought ..”ah well, now that I have gotten up, I would not be able to get a proper sleep and will toss around which will be of no use…the best that I could possibly do is to go breath in some fresh air and might as well feel good for the rest of the day !!!”

3.       Applying Positive Pressure: Talk to your friends, talk to your spouse, talk to your colleagues…tell them that you have started to exercise, tell them that you have started walking or practicing yoga or going to a gym, tell them that you have started walking for a 1km to start with and that you will gradually increase to 3 km in 10 days time.  Your friends, colleagues may ask you on your progress.  This kind of puts you under a self-initiated pressure to do well.  You might start talking about what good the exercising is doing for you and might possibly motivate others to join as well.  You kind of get into a position of no return since you have spoken about the “Goodness” that you will keep your word, today and tomorrow and the day after and ….

4.       Gyan from the CEO of TCS:  Perhaps, the best that has happened to me was an evening party Tete-e-tete with N. Chandra who is an avid Marathonist.  I popped a question, “Sir, How do you find time, given the position you are in to peacefully exercise and that too daily”.  The reply was simple and profound.  He placed his hands on my shoulder and said “My dear Sir, What do you do as soon as you get up”.  I blurted “Well, brush”. He asked “And then”…  I replied “make myself coffee or tea”.  He “And then”.  I said “Reach out to the newspaper”.  He “And then”…I was kind of flustered by then and was wondering where this was going…And the question and answer kept happening for the next 3 minutes or so.  And then he asked “Do you ever forget to brush your teeth or drink your coffee or bathe or ….” He was kind of checklisting my every morning’s routine and then popped “What if you enter a 20 min exercise routine into this checklist?  Can you do that?  Probably, hit bed 30 mins earlier every night so that you do not miss out on your 7 hour sleep, perhaps, hit the “OFF” button on your TV 30 mins early?  Can you do that?”  And he continued “Can you make this a habit just as naturally as you brush your teeth?  Can you sketch this part into your daily routine?  Trust me, if you do this for a month, it will become a habit that you will never ever miss.  And ofcourse, if you do this exactly at the same time of the day, this will become a habit all the more easily”.   I pondered thereafter for the rest of the evening “If, the CEO of a $ 10 Bn enterprise is saying this and is practicing what he is preaching ever so lucidly and in such simple manner, can I not do it ???”.

5.       Choose the Company and the Place:  Having like minded people as company when you exercise helps.  More often than not, you kind of ease off the daily drill after a few days, if you go it alone.  Exercising with a  group is always fun,  each motivating the other.  See what interests you the best and start off with that whether Yoga (there maybe a group under a coach in your friendly neighborhood) or walking or swimming or the gym…You choose…

The bottom line to start off is “Willing your mind to do it”.  This is the key.  Will it and you shall be a happy healthy you….

Caution:  You should check with your Doctor before you get into the exercise routine.  This is an absolute must.

Trust this blog though lengthy is of use to you and you will “WILL YOUR MIND TO EXERCISE EVERY DAY.” 

Prasanna Meher Nori

15^th June 2013

Value Life - A True Story

July 2012

VALUE LIFE

Her 7 year young son implored “Amma, get up, Amma wake up.  There are several people who have come to our house wanting to see you.  I don’t know why they all are crying.  Amma, please wake up Amma”.  His Grandmother sat close questioning inconsolably, “Why did it have to happen to my daughter, What wrong has she done…” while, his Grandfather was seemingly wandering aimlessly holding himself from shedding a tear, making arrangements for what was to be his daughters final journey….

Minus 4 days to that day, Sujana got on to her 2 wheeler to run an errand for her son, a ride close to her house.  She would have been making around 30 km/hr or less on the busy Filmnagar-Jubilee Hills checkpost road, when an auto hit her from behind.  Losing balance, she fell hitting her head on the road median.  She was immediately rushed to Apollo Hospitals, where the doctors sutured her head up and informed that there was a good loss of blood and only a miracle would save her.  The cut was deep into the base of her skull.  She was kept on life support systems while we prayed our hearts out.  With no progress seen, the doctors advised the family of the dreaded option of removing the life support system since, she was in a brain-dead state.

I often gaze at her office cubicle, right across where I sit…how I miss the ever smiling face, the busy self, the neat composure and wonder on the cruel twist of fate.  It just took less than a second for the event to happen on the fateful day.  Thinking, how donning a HELMET could have changed everything.  How things could have been so very radically different, how her son would run into her arms, when she returned home from work, how her family would huddle together for those evening dinners or the weekend get-togethers, how her son would not question his grandparents…”Ammamma, you told me that Amma will be back after getting a new brain…when will she be back…I want to tell her what all I did in school today….”

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I am hoping that you will share the above article with your friends.   Perhaps, it will drive sense into atleast 10% of the readers or their families that it wise to don a helmet while on a 2 wheeler, wear a seat belt whilst in a car, drive slow and safe.  I for one, have decided not to take calls when I drive.  How often I came close to hitting someone in front, while I was busy looking at “Who called my cell”.  I recognize that a simple nudge to a 2-wheeler can have disastrous effects.

Prasanna Meher Nori

Providence: Tale of two Lives, Mine included

23-Mar-2013

Providence: Tale of two Lives, Mine included

08:43 hours this Thursday could have been a defining moment for 2 lives had it not been for a divine intervention.  My usual self bade a bye to my wife lodging my rucksack in the backseat of my car, mumbling my daily prayers easing into the unwelcome chaotic puzzling Hyderabadi traffic. 

This day’s traffic was no different and my watchful self waded through the morning chaos thinking of the surprises that my work will offer.  My thoughts took me into the World of the XL the columns, the rows, the pivots, the numbers I will have to work on to get to a graph evidencing that I was in the right and the client is making much ado about nothing.  The other part of my mind was working on which song would be best to listen to and ah yes…the third folder…the fifth song..for that Kishore song..”Savera ka Sooraj….” Or should I tune into one of the FM channels to listen to ….Clang…Crash…thud...Wail….Screeeeech…Screech…and I find a young twenty something sprawled inches away in front of my car, his helmet had come off and his belongings strewn, his bike lying parallel on the road with the rear wheels still whirring with life….What the..where did he..how did he….and I slammed my brakes with a supreme effort stopping inches from his head.  Visibly shaken and completely stirred, the blood drained ashen me rooted in my seat let out a rare bead of sweat…With my heart pounding, I got out to check the damage that lay in front…Did I hit him?  Did my car touch him?  Is he ok?  Is there blood?  But where did he come from and how did he land there out of nowhere?

A few good Samaritans stopped by, lending a helping hand to the 20 something who appeared to be thoroughly puzzled and was muttering some choicest expletives on someone.  I figured that the recipient of these expletives was a jay walker crossing the road on foot, who appeared out from behind a car that was running adjacent to mine.  Completely blind sighted and surprised, the biker slammed his brakes but could not avoid hitting him.  Losing balance, he fell, his bike in front of the car adjacent to mine and he himself flung right in front of mine.

I was wondering What if I were doing 35 kmph instead of 30 kmph.....what if I was fiddling with the stereo controls getting to my fav song or trying to avoid an ad on the FM moving to the next station or I had my head turned admiring the BMW 720D or a black Merc A Class that may have been tailing mine or a momentary lapse of concentration having a dekho at a Pretty Young Thing ambling on the road or stealing a look at my phone to check who called ??..…What a defining difference that micro-second could have had.....

Providence had a big role to play this Thursday surely, else, It would have completely changed my life in multifarious ways.  And the 20 something would have lost a limb or two or may be looking for a broken back life cursing his fate and or even worse possibly be on his last ever journey on mother earth.  

How a micro-second of time on the road esp. the Hyderabadi  roads could completely change a life…I keep wondering…..

Prasanna Meher Nori