Ayodhya Verdict n What All Does Come Out Of It !!!

So finally, finally the verdict is out and I guess most of us would appreciate this judgment. Even if we differ in the interpretations and perhaps on the judgment in itself one thing is for sure, We are living in Different Times and Times are no more the same. India is different in 2010 to what it was in 1992.

I was 12 then, when on one Cold Sunday Evening it came all blown up in those Doordarshan days that the mosque had been demolished and communal riots had broken all over the country. What it meant to me apart from that extended winter vacations was that perhaps for the first time there were seeds of that division been created in my mind, the "THEM" v/s the "US".

So what could have been the verdict apart from the present judgment? Could the High Court have given a statement that ok what happened on 6th of December 1992 was wrong but just for the larger interest let's move on and build a Temple there? Could the High Court have gone on the other side of the debate by terming that act as barbaric and ordered re-building of that mosque? Hypothetically yes but if you are honest with yourself both of this could have never happened and will never happen. That is why I feel this is perhaps the best judgment in the present circumstances.

But before we ponder over this a little more, we need to once in and for all agree to few facts:-

1> There was indeed a Dilapidated Temple to start with at that Site.

2> There was indeed a Mosque been built over the ruins of that Dilapidated Temple.

3>Babri Masjid was indeed demolished on 6th December 1992, and for Heaven's sake we should term that as a demolition of mosque and condemn it rather that term it as demolition of disputed structure and condone it.

4> What happened on that particular day (6th December 1992) was indeed barbaric and utterly shameful.

5> But it is time to move on now for sure. Agreed what happened was barbaric, agreed it was shameful but then what to do now over that. Let us accept it that these things do happen however unpleasant it is but we cannot just let these things allow us to keep us back.

6> By this I am not one bit justifying but rather suggesting it is time we as India move forward.

7> And Finally let us now not go on those semantics of "Grand Temple" and "Grand Mosque" and not try to out do each other but rather concentrate on building something which is much more humane and relevant.

Once we agree to this we need to find how we interpret this judgment. Do as part of some reconciliatory gesture get the judgment tweaked just to address the grievances of the other community, Do we now go to Apex Court and look for one final verdict once again even if that means waiting for another generation or perhaps sit across the table, iron out mis-giving’s and do what the High Court has asked it to do.

As much as I would not like but it seems to me at the moment that the First Option will be finally in place. There will be claims and counter claims on the verdict but an out of court settlement now cannot be ruled out once they fight it out in the Apex Court.

Discussing the second option is indeed a good temptation. Let the debate go in the Apex Court for another generation or two and let India emerge more mature and more inclusive and let us then accept the same judgment from the Supreme Court. It is indeed a good idea but all can go awfully bad if the Supreme Court delivers a different verdict and gets it totally towards one community. Take it from me we will be far more divided then to what we are now. It will be the worst possible thing to happen then and that is why I strongly feel not to go for that.

I for once would back the last option. Let this be the last time we discuss this age old issue and let us all pray that as India we move forward and get this past bogey out of our mind share.

My last word on this verdict goes to Mr. S.U.Khan who while delivering the verdict said "That much before 1855 Ram Chabutra and Seeta Rasoi had come into existence and Hindus were worshipping in the same. It was very very unique and absolutely unprecedented situation that in side the boundary wall and compound of the mosque Hindu religious places were there which were actually being worshipped along with offerings of Namaz by Muslims in the mosque".

If we could have been united then when Britisher's were ruling us then why not now when we are Free, Resurgent and More Prosperous India.

JAI HO!!!

Why I Think You Should Watch These 25 Movies Before You Die !!! - Part I

As an avid movie watcher, a critic among my own friend circle, movies form an important ground in my life. I have been fortunate to have born in a family where movie watching if not encouraged to the hilt was never discouraged either. In fact there was a time during our summer holidays when we use to have those long movie sessions… Back to Back 4-5 movies over the 10-12 hours… Trust me it was fantastic and quite memorable… So what exactly forms the very basis of a good movie? At the heart of a movie is a mystery, the way it interacts with the memories and experience of the viewer to become something intensely personal. More than any other form of artistic expression, people claim movies as their own.

For me, a great movie is about a good script and the art of story telling. As much as the script forms the heart of any movie the acting sequences form the lungs of it. You can have the best script and an apt story teller but if your artist cannot deliver that to the masses nobody would even remember it. Apart from these camerawork, editing, songs, dance and all the other things add and then together it becomes more than the sum of their parts, evoking ideas and emotions. A truly great movie takes on a kind of intrinsic life of its own. Its genius manifests when discussed by a towering critic in his Friday News Paper Column to a bunch of friends in a roadside tea shop.

So what should be the yardstick when you try to find out the Top 25 Bollywood Movies of all time? Content, Box Office Performance, Amount of Revenue it generated, No. of Awards it won or perhaps the longevity of memory it has in the mind of the viewer. Perhaps all of that should matter or for that matter perhaps none. I went by all of these in some shades and finally came up with this list where performance mattered more than success and content was more important than the budget. Also I went for those movies which were different in concept and ideas were niche.

I have done the list from 25th Movie and gone up the ladder. This being the Part I has the list from 11th Best to the 25th Best. Part II which showcases the Top 10 will be released sooner than later.

Though I have done my ranking in the most objective manner you might come across movies which you feel extremely outlandish and movies which do not befit to that top 25 status. I have my own set of likings and I might be biased towards a few themes or for that matter few individuals. I have always loved Hrishikesh Mukherjee / Bimal Roy style of movies and their concept of “Middle of the Road” cinema. Yash Chopra and his school of thoughts about Indian Movies have always fascinated me and for many years during my childhood Bollywood was all about two letters AB. And do I need to mention that I love Aamir Khan.

I would welcome comments, debates, opinions and all the suggestions. I would be eager to re-visit all those movies which you find should have been in this list once again just to quench my thirst on Indian Movies.

In a country of more than one billion people and where more than 500 movies are released every year there can never be that one "The Final List". Of these hundreds of films released, only a small handful see any degree of success, only a selected few go on to taste the heights of success, and very rarely attain the status of classics and all-time greats. Any such list will always be personal rather than definitive – We all watch movies and we all have our own favorites that our close to our hearts. These are my 25 Greatest Bollywood Movies of all Time.

Happy Reading!!!

25th Best Bollywood Movie: - Chak De India and Dil Chahta Hain.

Team Chak De !!!



Chak De was brilliant in terms of getting the country rise through it diversities and getting on a common platform. Chak De India is the story of a coach and his fight of making his team, a team which has to overcome their diverse backgrounds, by learning to use everything that life hurls on them as a secret weapon. It’s a story about honesty, sincerity and integrity. A story to remind the country of its National Sport- Field Hockey. It is directed by Shimit Amin, produced by Yash Raj Films, and stars Shahrukh Khan and 16 new actresses. Chak De! India explores religious bigotry, the legacy of partition, ethnic/regional prejudice, and sexism in contemporary India through field hockey. While the tale of the sporting underdog is hardly new, Script Writer Jaideep Sahni's offers a rare look at a popular Indian sport often overshadowed by cricket. But it's not the type of bat and ball, or the number of practice sessions that are at issue here. Instead, the gender and personal prejudices of the players underpin the story.

A Masterpiece coming from Yash Raj Team and no two ways about the fact that it was The Best SRK Movie of this millennium. The Mc-Donald’s Scene was amazing while Shahrukh’s Sattar Minute too inspiring.


Dil Chahta Hai !!! Neo Age Indian Movie



Dil Chahta Hain on the other hand was all neo-realism and it did usher the New Age Cinema. DIL CHAHTA HAI is a film about these three distinct characters, their individual relationships and the effect that those relationships have on the three of them. It focuses on a major period of transition in the lives of three young friends. It is a 2001 Hindi film starring Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Preity Zinta, Sonali Kulkarni and Dimple Kapadia. The first film written and directed by Farhan Akhtar, it is set in modern-day urban Mumbai. This film makes it to the list due to the many firsts to its credit. It is one of the pioneers of the New Age Cinema. It explored themes such as male bonding, falling in love with an older person, friendship and reconciliation. Watch the film for the crackling chemistry between the three main protagonists. The best part about the movie is that it still retains it freshness and though it is almost 10 years since the movie was released it seems just the other day because of its contemporary nature.

Saif’s telephone conversation with his girl friend Suchitra Pillai was hilarious and the song “Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe” a chartbuster.

24th Best Bollywood Movie: -Andaz Apna Apna.

Andaz Apna Apna 

Andaz Apna Apna is a 1994 Hindi film co-written and directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, starring Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Raveena Tandon, Paresh Rawal and Shakti Kapoor in the lead roles. This is one of Bollywood evergreen and top rating, comedy flick. The plot revolves around two boys who want to get rich quickly by taking all the short-cuts possible in a con book. How they do it forms the very essence of the entire movie plot. Even though it performed poorly at the box office upon its release, it has since gained a strong cult following over the years.

Of the many scenes of Crime Master Gogo which immediately springs to my mind the one which I cherish the most is the act in which Aamir and Salman follow Crime Master Gogo raising keeping their hands up. It is hilarious.

23rd Best Bollywood Movie: -Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.

For giving us Aamir n much more

Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, QSQT in short was a movie which did set a trend in Hindi Movie Industry. It is one of the landmark films of Hindi cinema. It was a welcome break from the violent 70s and 80s with all and sundry doing their ‘angry young man’ act. Released in 1988, written by veteran producer-director Nasir Hussain and directed by his son Mansoor Khan. The film starred Hussain's nephew, Aamir Khan, along with Juhi Chawla in their first major roles. This film can be credited with turning the tide for Bollywood, when it was laid low by a string of flops in the mid 1980s. It is also a quintessential Bollywood masala film. The film saw success because it introduced freshness in the form of the teenage love story, loosely based on the plot of Romeo and Juliet. The young lovers elope and are chased by their parents. When they find no hope for their love they decide to die and make their love immortal. It also made melodious tunes once again popular over the 80's trend of disco and break dance influenced soundtracks.

If for nothing else this movie should be in the list for giving one of the best actors in the form of Aamir Khan to the Indian Movie Industry and perhaps giving and evergreen farewell song in “Papa Kehte Hain Bada Naam Karega”.

22nd Best Bollywood Movie: -Do Aankhen Baraah Haath.

A Movie Concept Never Repeated

Do Aankhen Baraah Haath is a 1957 movie. Considered one of the classics of Hindi cinema and is based on morals of Gandhian philosophy. The movie is a masterpiece from none other than the master himself, V. Shantaram. Through this movie V. Shantaram explores the very institution of prison inmates and the never experimented process of rehabilitation of hardened criminals. It’s a stark black-and-white film about a jailor who believes that love and trust can turn even the most hardened criminals into God fearing responsible citizens. V Shantaram played the lead character of an idealistic jailor himself and his real life wife Sandhya plays a toy seller. Shantaram makes the film believable as the change is gradual and thankfully there is no melodrama in the film. The prisoners keep on going back to their old ways but the jailors faith and psychologically handled situations make him a winner in the end.

One of the songs sung by Lata Mangeshkar “Aye Maalik Tere Bande Hum” is a hugely popular song and is still often sung in morning prayers in schools.

21st Best Bollywood Movie: -Chupke Chupke.

Chupke Chupke

Chupke Chupke is a 1975 Hindi Movie which stars Amitabh Bacchan, Jaya Bacchan, Dharmendra, Sharmila Tagore, Om Prakash, David, Asrani and Keshto Mukherjee. The movie, a remake of the Bengali hit Chhadmabeshi, was directed by the legendary storyteller Hrishikesh Mukherjee with music composed by S.D. Burman. Without an iota a doubt it is one of the cutest, cleanest and the best comedies ever to come out of the Bollywood stable. And what a success it was! It is a hilarious tale of mix-ups and confusion, with great performances by all the actors. Not to mention the great music.

Though most people love the performance of Dharmender over Amitabh but to me it was Amitabh Bacchan who stole the show esp. in that “Korola” scene in which he was fantastic. One of my all time favorite movies in comedy genre.

20th Best Bollywood Movie: -Masoom.

Shekhar Kapur’s magnum opus Masoom was released in 1983. It was his first directorial venture and starred Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Supriya Pathak and Saeed Jaffrey, as well as child actors Jugal Hansraj and Urmila Matondkar. The plot was broadly based on Man, Woman and Child written by Erich Segal. Masoom is a sweet, sad story about the repercussions of bad decisions made by basically good people. The film's title, Masoom, means "innocent" and there are a number of innocent victims of Naseer's transgression, not least the boy Jugal himself, who only wants to be loved, to be part of the family, and to find his father. In one particularly heartbreaking sequence, Rahul (Jugal Hansraj), puzzled by Indu's (Shabana Azmi) coldness to him, makes her a birthday gift; she struggles palpably with tenderness toward him on the one hand, and horror and anger at what he represents on the other. Indu herself is innocent as well, and the film puts her in a terrible position. It is heartbreaking to watch her take out her pain and anger on the boy and grapple to come to terms with what she knows she has to do for him. The movie had an excellent script and boasted of some of the finest music of Bollywood. All in all, a delicate, sensitive film thoughtfully crafted and movingly executed.

My best scene of the movie has to be when Rahul hurts his hand and runs around in the house shouting for his Mom (who is actually no more), he stops near Indu and realizes that his mother is no more. Indu looks at him in anger and shouts; “I am not your Mummy”. Weeping Rahul silently hides his hand. The most amazing part of the movie is the expression of the characters and how do they face the changing dynamics in their relationship. Must Watch!!!

19th Best Bollywood Movie: -Gumnaam.

Gumnaam - Best of All Thrillers !!!

Gumnaam is a 1965 Indian Horror-Thriller Movie directed by Raja Nawathe, starring Manoj Kumar, Nanda, Pran, Helen and Mehmood. The film became a box office hit. The story is based on Agatha Christie's novel "And Then There Were None". Seven people get selected in a lucky draw for a trip abroad. They all plan to go on the trip. On the way to their destination, the plane has engine trouble and they are left abandoned in a remote seaside location. They find shelter in a large mansion inhabited by a comical butler Mehmood. One by one, they are murdered and the remaining vacationers try to figure out why they were chosen for the trip and what they have in common.A movie that is upwards of two and a half hours long shouldn't peak in the first ten minutes, yet that's what Gumnaam manages to do. Gumnaam is an extraordinarily well-made film technically, particularly for a Bollywood undertaking. The sets are first-rate; the camera work is consistently excellent. The storytelling, too, has spots of actual merit with some interesting messages about the role of alcohol in sexual relations and the differences between women like Nanda and Helen. The only where the movie lacked was perhaps at the pace and the final climax where the real killer was revealed. We do not get explanations as to what all the relationships were that led the killer to target these specific people. Otherwise the suspense was well kept.

One of its musical numbers “Jaan Pehechan Ho” was used as the opening credits of the well-regarded indie film Ghost World though my favorite is the title-track “Gumnaam Hai Koi, Badnaam Hain Koi”

18th Best Bollywood Movie: -Waqt.

WAQT-The Orignal Multi-Star Film

Waqt is a 1965 Indian film directed by Yash Chopra. It was produced by B.R. Chopra and starred an ensemble cast including Sunil Dutt, Raaj Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Sadhana, Balraj Sahni, Madan Puri, Sharmila Tagore, Achala Sachdeva and Rehman. It pioneered the concept of films with multiple stars, starting a trend followed by other films. Released on the New Year Day of 1965 the movie was a box office success. A film describing the importance and power of TIME in our lives is known as a spectacular trend setter in the Hindi film industry. A film which laid down the basic foundation of all the “Lost & Found” movies was one of the first big impressive take on the famous Bollywood format. The plot pioneered the “Lost & Found” formula in Bollywood. A happy family separated by Waqt (Time), goes through a series of trials trying to reunite. Starting with a well written sequence depicting the supremacy of Time, the movie shows us the tragedy faced by a rich man and his family, which in few seconds sends them into the lap of poverty and mercilessly separates them from each other for years. Living their individual lives far away, the characters once again are brought together by the uncontrollable power of Time after a few decades. They get to meet each other unknowingly and with the changing times, find themselves entangled into a new web of relationships beyond imagination. The story which starts as a family drama unexpectedly ends in a courtroom sequence where the whole family unites again accepting the undeniable power of TIME. Balraj Sahani’s splendid portrayal of a proud man refusing to accept the power of time makes you think about the each & every second of our life, which we go on living without knowing anything about the next one. The movie gave us Raaj Kumar and his memorable “Jaani” and “Chinoy Seth- Jinke Ghar Seeshe Ke Ho” dialogues. It gave a qawwali in “Aye Meri Zohrazabin” which still remains the one and only song associated with the Old Age Romance by every lover of Hindi Films living anywhere in the world. And last but not the least it gave Indian Movie Yash Chopra who later came up with several Unforgettable Romantic Gems with never before kind of content on Indian Silver Screen.

My favorite dialogue in the movie comes from Raaj Kumar himself when he cautions Madan Puri of not threatening him with knife “Yeh bachon ke khelne ki cheez nahi, haath kat jaye toh khoon nikal aata hai”.

17th Best Bollywood Movie: -Daddy.

Daddy released in 1989 was the debut movie of Pooja Bhatt and was directed by her father Mahesh Bhatt. The movie explores the concept of split family and comes with a message of that Blood is thicker than Water. The Story tells about a daughter who wants to cure her father from the alcoholic addiction. It is a film about a young daughter who tries to rediscover her father, at the same time rescue him from the brink of destroying himself at the hands of alcoholism. Slowly as the story progresses, more fact about the reason of his alcoholism comes to light, and he is able to overcome them eventually with the help of her love and her support. The movie banks on some superlative performance from Anupam Kher and Pooja Bhatt and ably supported by Avtar Gill and Neena Gupta. The music till date is very popular.

My best song from the movie is the one which Anupam Kher sings at the Song Contest “Aaina Mujhse Meri Pehle Si Soorat Maange”

16th Best Bollywood Movie: -Rock On.

Rock On!! is a 2008 Bollywood film written and directed by Abhishek Kapoor, produced by Farhan Akhtar, and with music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy stars Arjun Rampal, Farhan Akhtar, Luke Kenny, and Purab Kohli. The film is an interesting mix about four friends and their families involved and parallels about the rock band these guys are part of. The movie deals with emotions, relationships and has lot to do with music. Circumstances play villain here and it has been captured well. The fragile relationship and the compelling narrative make you spellbound. The movie to me is all about Farhan Akhtar. Years later when we sit and discuss this might end up be the bench mark for him. Such has been his enormity in the acting skills that some how I feel his vocal chords might have been over shadowed. It's courageous on the part of the film's makers that they went with Farhan's vocals for the songs that are filmed on him. And they were spot on. Farhan Akhtar makes his debut as an actor and he displays rare maturity for a first-timer. Known as an accomplished director all along, Farhan came to known as a mature actor as well from there on.

A quick anecdote about the movie. And let me confess that I jumped out of my seat the moment I saw Farhan Akhtar singing the Dandiya version of “Sanso Ki Jarurat Hain Jaise”. It was hilarious!!! ROCK ON!!!

15th Best Bollywood Movie: - Lagaan: Once Upon A Time In India.



An OSCAR Performance !!!



Lagaan: Once Upon A Time In India, is a 2001 feature film. The film, based on an original story by Ashutosh Gowariker, was also directed by him. It was produced by Aamir Khan, who plays the lead role, and stars Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley and Paul Blackthorne in supporting roles. Set in the heady days of the British Raj, the film combines the two potent opiums of the Indian masses: Cricket and Patriotism. It also featured the all-time favorite theme of the underdog, the David pitted against the Goliaths of the world. The heady mix resulted in a big blockbuster, and success and acclaim from all over the world. The film was nominated for the Oscars in the Foreign languages category. The film also introduced a hitherto unknown and neglected factor of successful film-making-Marketing. The film is a period drama set in the 19th century British-ruled India. Set in a small village called Champaner it tells the story of the simple village-folk struggling to pay off the annual debts (Lagaan) to the British. Lagaan is the story of a battle without bloodshed fought by a group of unlikely heroes led by Aamir Khan, an enigmatic young farmer with courage born of conviction and a dream in his heart. He is helped by Rachel Shelley, the beautiful English girl who came to India and lost her heart, and Aamir’s pillar of strength, Gracy Singh, the young and perky village girl who dreams only of a home with the man she loves. A story of extraordinary circumstances thrust upon ordinary people. Adversity faced with fortitude and injustice with dignity. There is slowly awakening pride, the grit and determination of a people who have everything to lose. Faith and courage come face to face with arrogance and ruthlessness. And the human spirit triumphs.

This is by far one of the Best Aamir Khan Movie. The Last Ball Six from Aamir and the Village Pradhan shouting “Hum Jeet Gaye” was terrific and I lost the count of whistles I blew during that sequence. This might be the second time Aamir did hit that last ball six in his movie career (The first time been in Awwal Number) but this time he did definitely hit the bull’s eye for sure. Lagaan was a treat to watch and trust me it still is and will remain…

14th Best Bollywood Movie: - Ijaazat.

Ijaazat is an acclaimed 1987 film directed by Gulzar. Starring Rekha and Naseeruddin Shah in leading roles, the film followed the story of couple who are separated and who accidentally meet in a railway station waiting room and discover some truths about their lives without each other. The film belongs to the realistic, art cinema genre in India, known as parallel cinema. The movie is a powerful story that deals with feminism and patriarchy in the middle class of India in the 1980s. The movie is beautifully written and executed. For a saga of missed opportunities and broken relationships, its surprisingly not depressing! The story unfolds at a leisurely pace with the character’s actions and expressions rather than their dialogues, telling us their tale. Needless to say, the performances are superb. Naseeruddin Shah and Rekha are so good that I was almost convinced that their characters’ marriage was a good idea and their break-up was much to be regretted! Anuradha Patel was gorgeous but somewhat less convincing. I think her character was meant to be a free-spirited, modern girl but shows up as rather pathetic, emotionally disturbed and distressingly dependent. Gulzaar’s dialogues are so very evocative. As the night proceeds and Rekha dons the mantle of the still-caring wife with ease, you can see Naseeruddin dawning hope for reconciliation. A hope that is dashed next morning by the appearance of her new husband Shashi Kapoor who’s rushed to her side after hearing that she was stranded in the secluded station. Rekha’s regretful backward glances at Naseeruddin, as she accompanies her hubby, do not bode well for her marriage. You realize that it’s the beginning of another cycle of three-is-company, with Naseeruddin being the unwanted third now.

One of the best scenes in the movie is at the fag end of the movie when Rekha touches Naseeruddin’s feet as a plea for his forgiveness and for his permission (Ijaazat) for her to leave him, something which she had not received the last time they had separated.

13th Best Bollywood Movie: - Jaagriti.

Abhi Bhattacharaya and the students

Jaagriti is a 1954 Hindi Movie and is probably the best patriotic film appropriate for all age group young, adult and old. The first time I saw this movie was when I was perhaps 8 and this movie continues to inspire me now also. One of the finest movies which inspire people of all ages even today, though the film is produced with essentially children in mind. Its songs are particularly touching and elevating. They remind people of all ages and teach the young the history and beauty of India, its monuments, valor and sacrifices made by Indians through generations, the reverence India holds for her sacred rivers, and describes Gandhi, through moving, melodious, and absorbing lyrics, and music, while on a journey on a train and through travels around India. The film highlights the basic cultural ethos of India, in which the young pay respects to their teachers and elders and love for others, while the teacher becomes a beckon of hope, and everlasting friendships. It teaches children to be brave in the face of hardships, and brings out the rejuvenating effect of Indian music, to motivate children towards patriotism and noble acts towards each other. A really fine movie to see by the whole family, and excellent aid for display in schools. It should become part of school curriculum in India, in all schools. 

12th Best Bollywood Movie: - Bandini.

Bimal Roy Classic

Bandini is a 1963 Hindi Movie coming from the stable of legendary Bimal Roy and has Ashok Kumar and Nutan along with Dharmender in the lead. Nutan gives her career best performance and the movie explores the human conflicts of love and hate intertwined in the mind of Nutan. The movie tells the story of Nutan, the all suffering, selfless, sacrificing, and strong yet weak Indian woman. She must make a choice between two very different men, Dharmender, the loving prison doctor, and Ashok Kumar, a man from her past. This movie regarded by many as Bimal Roy’s crowning achievement essentially looks into the life of a convict and reveals his/her humanity and the circumstances that often force an ordinary person to commit a crime. This deep social concern is however conveyed subtly through the predicament of the main protagonist Nutan lodged in the prison and her longing for freedom. The film also highlights the spirit of sacrifice in the youth during the freedom struggle when a youth would even sacrifice his future wife, at his party's command. Despite having a dramatic turn of events through out the film, the melodrama never overpowers the narrative, the pace remains engrossing yet easy, and cinematography highlights the stillness and vacuum of a prison life. Nutan remains understated through the film, and the director employs irony and symbolism throughout the film to make his statement instead. Bandini is the ultimate Nutan film. It is a great example of her natural acting style. Her subtle and poetic acting technique lends a compelling touch to even the most melodramatic scenes. Bimal Roy wisely works the film up to her flashback sequence leaving enough time for the audience themselves to judge Nutan´s character through their own eyes. Ashok Kumar matches Nutan step for step in the acting stakes. He is a character who is very strong and gutsy when it comes to fighting for India’s independence but he proves to be a coward in situations dealing with his relationship with his wife. And before I end my piece I need to mention S D Burman and his music which was of the highest order and which keep that lasting impact.

For all those among us who think it was Aamir Khan who used the word “All is well” for the first time in 3 Idiots should see the movie and find out about the prison guard shouting “All is well” when nothing in the movie or perhaps in the life of Nutan is. A movie which showcases brilliant cinema which Bimal Roy had to offer.

11th Best Bollywood Movie: - Devdas.

Dilip Kumar in and as Devdas !!!

Devdas though till date has three Avatar’s in Hindi Cinema and trust me each of them are brilliant but the one which makes to my list is the 1955 Bimal Roy’s epic casting Dilip Kumar, Suchitra Sen and Vyjayantimala. It is based on a 1927 Sarat Chandra Chattopadhya’s novel by the same name. Such has been the immenseness of the novel that not less that 10 Indian Movies in various languages and 1 Bangladesh Movie have been made. The cinematography of the film conveys a dark, grim foreboding which is so fitting to the theme of the movie. It is a tragedy, depicting the classic theme of falling in love and then losing it all. Devdas played by Dilip Kumar and Paro by Suchitra Sen had been inseparable as children, and as they grew older, love blossomed. Dilip Kumar is sent away for studies by his parents he and Suchitra are separated. A chain of events lead to Suchitra being married off to someone else and Dilip Kumar drowns his sorrows in alcohol. When Dilip Kumar is pronounced critical due to his drinking, he remembers the promise he had made to Suchitra, of coming to see her before he dies. Devdas is a film about how hearts and lives are crushed under the parental and social pressures. Dilip Kumar as the self-destructive doomed lover gives a remarkable performance. His drunken scenes are understated and that coupled with his inimitable style of dialogue delivery is a deadly combo. No doubt in my mind that it is my Best Dilip Kumar movie. Vyjayantimala as Chandramukhi and Suchitra Sen as Paro give sensitive performances. The character of Chunni Babu, played by Motilal deserves special mention.

Dilip Kumar’s dialogue delivery “Kaun kambakht bardasht karne ke liye peeta hai?” to Vyjayantimala is out of the world. Arguably much better than SRK’s in 2002 to Madhuri. The movie had everything what a classic movie needs. A Bimal Roy Movie.

This brings an end to the Part I of my topic about the Why I Think You Should Watch These 25 Movies Before You Die !!! and I will come up with the Part II which does feature the Top Ten of Hindi Cinema in a week or so, till then keep reading, posting your comments and needless to say keep recommending other good movies to me. Also do Vote on the poll of Best Bollywood Movie which I have started in my page. I hope you have enjoyed reading and going through this list, as much as I enjoyed do my bit of research and compiling it.

Vacations Diary: Kolkata and Eastern Himalayas

Visiting Kolkata during Hot and Sultry July is never fun and the humidity levels make you feel even worse. But this was different.... And it had to be fun and I guess nothing else. Kolkata was the starting point for our Annual Vacations 2010 which also included four cities in Eastern Himalayas namely Kalimpong, Gangtok, Pelling and Darjeeling.

Day 1: 9th July 2010.

I hate these early morning flights and esp. when they supposedly start a vacation. The very noise of that morning alarm clock and rush to the airports when you want to catch that extra sleep makes you question the very concept of vacations. But then time is always a premium now days and we want to reach out holiday spots as early as we can. Drive to New Delhi Airport was pleasant and so was the Indigo Flight to Kolkata.

This was my second visit to the City of Joy in the last year or so. Kolkata looked good with the cloudy sky and warm early morning temperature and the humidity was bearable. All in all a perfect setting for what would be an eventful next two days.

We were in Kolkata to attend my B-School Room Mate Vishal Singh’s (From Now On Dada) wedding. Dada incidentally was my first friend in Symbi and my room mate. Probably because of our same cultural background as well as mother tongue we quickly became friends and in next two years that friendship became even more stronger.

The drive from the Airport to Ballygaunge where the Hotel Guest House is located was pretty boring. The Eagerness to meet old friends might be one of the reasons, Kolkata Traffic another. Once we reached the Guesthouse we got fresh and went straight to the Dada’s ancestral house some where near Jadavpur. Meeting other Symbi friends was as much fun as much meeting some new acquaintances there. Dada was extremely delighted meeting us and so were we. The hospitality was excellent and to be honest Dada’s close chums made us feel extremely comfortable.

The welcome drink was Kingfisher Beer (I could not have imagined anything else either) and the party started almost immediately. Smoke n Sweets and Food n Liquor kept on flowing and we kept on meeting Dada’s close family and his friends. The Lunch was a true Bengali Delicacy and the Betki Paturi was the highlight.

In the middle of it I met my old Symbi friends in Pari, Sankha and Yash. Campus Jokes were cracked again and old memoirs re-visited. It almost made us feel that we were back in 2002-04 campus days.

The evening function at Punjabi Bradree was elaborate and it was really funny to see the groom reaching the place much before the other Barati’s did. After the ceremonial pictures and exchanging pleasantries the whole gang of ours went to a near by pub Aqua and had a nice time over the drinks. Part of the gang was Symbi and the remaining half was Dada’s Kolkata friend circle. It was amazing to feel how quickly we all came to enjoy each other’s company.

Day 2: 10th July 2010.

Next morning both Shonali n me rushed for a quick byte in Flurry at Park Street. I specially love the Elaborate Breakfast which Flurry offers and it has been one of my rituals over the years I have visited Kolkata. Post that Breakfast and calling on a few family friends we went back the Guest House. It was nice to see my B-School Gang finally woken after the last night long party.

When friends meet they usually gossip, they drink and they have food. Lunch was done at China Town in one of the many restaurants in that narrow lane. My first visit to that place in Kolkata and must confess the food was really yummy and the drinks went well with that. Beijing is a recommended place there and serves good Fish as well as Chicken Delicacy’s in Oriental Style.

Back to Hotel and after catching up with an afternoon nap it was time for the Reception Party which was arranged after the wedding. The Tolly Club in Kolkata is one of the finest places you can be and as expected the event went on very well. The food was good and so was the liquor and we had a fantastic time. The hospitality extended by Dada’s close friends was extremely delightful and I really appreciate that.

Pari and Yash decided to stay on there for some more time while Shonali and I along with Sankha decided to go back to hotel for different reasons. I had to catch that morning flight to Bagdogra while Sankha wanted to enjoy the Third Place Play off Football Match between Uruguay and Germany. You cannot keep a Bong away from Football Match and hence inspite of the fact that I had to catch a flight early morning I still managed to watch the match. Uruguay you played really well and by far were the most improved team in this World Cup. Forlan, you were magical. I could have loved every thing about them if only Suarez had not got that “Hand of God”.

Day 3: 11th July 2010.

Kolkata has always been fun and for two days it was even more. It was time to pack your bags and head to Eastern Himalayas. A lot of travel agents call the visit to this sector as North East Visit but honestly it is not North East but Eastern Himalayas and should be called like that.

Recent Aircraft disasters in India and esp. involving small airports have made you think twice about boarding airplanes when you go to places like Bagdogra. The landing of the air craft was just not ok and for a second it made you go crazy.

Our first stop was Kalimpong. Situated around 80-100 kms from the Airport this small city in Eastern Part of West Bengal is at a height of 4000 Ft. It is a small sleepy hill resort and lies within Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. With a population of about 50,000, it is ethnically and culturally similar to Darjeeling. The best part of Kalimpong is its weather which is unlike Darjeeling’s quite mild and hence much in demand away from harsh winters in Darjeeling. Cradled on a saddle between the hill features of Durpin and Deolo Hill, this town has almost everything- scenic beauty, flowers, greenery, waters, mists, clouds etc.

We stayed @ Silver Oaks a nice luxury property of Elgin Resorts. It is just 2 minutes from the Mall. Built originally in 1930, the present day building has been spruced up with multi cuisine restaurant etc. The hotel has more glass than walls which allows the breathtaking beauty of the great outdoors to fill the indoors. The room was excellent and the hospitality was great. The dinner though was a bit disappointment but I was more eager to see the Football WC Final. Predictably Spain defeated Holland but the way the Dutch played was never good for old supporters of them like me.

Day 4: 12th July 2010.

It was a late morning wake up and had to do only because we had that Kalimpong visit lined up. The Breakfast was quite good at Oaks and both of us really enjoyed that Continental Breakfast. From there we straight went for the half day trip in and around Kalimpong. We started with the Durpin Hill. This place has the famous Zong Dog Palri Fo- Brang Monastery which belongs to the same Buddhist sect as the present Dalai Lama. It is situated at an altitude of 1402 meters which offers breathtaking views. This is an observatory point about 3 km from the town from where a breath taking view of the Himalayan ranges can be seen. Durpin Dara is the highest point in Kalimpong accessible by car. It offers a finest view of the plains and the mighty Teesta River. We also visited few Hill Points namely Jelapla View Point, Pine View Point. The view from these points was more or less good but the very fact that this is monsoon time meant that clouds covered the mountains more often than not. We also went to a near by beautiful Cactus Farm in Kalimpong. This Farm had more than 1000 different varieties of Cactus Plants. They charge Ten Bucks for entry there but you do not mind that because you get to see something really good. We skipped the Mangal Dham Temple and went straight to Kalim Temple where we offered prayers. Dr Graham's Homes complex with its historic church & well maintained grounds founded in 1900 by Rev. Dr. J A Graham, a Scottish missionary serves as a boarding school these days and is a good watch. Finally the famous Delo Hill of Kalimpong (5556 ft) appears to be the roof- of- the- world, is the highest point in Kalimpong are must watch and should be done with good time in hand as you need to trek for about half an hour to reach there.

Post that we went to Gangtok only stopping at Rangpo for our Lunch. Rangpo is a small town just at the West Bengal – Sikkim Border and offers limited food options. We took a quick bite and drove straight to Gangtok. Quite surprisingly you get to eat only Veg Food here.

The journey from Kalimpong to Gangtok takes around three hours and is quite photogenic and pleasant. Gangtok @ 5500 Ft is the capital of Sikkim the Land of the Pristine and unspoilt natural beauty with alpine landscapes and thick luxuriant forests, rivers in torrent and peaceful lakes.

We stayed at The Norkhill - the erstwhile Guest house of the King of Sikkim, a Heritage Property. With rich traditional interiors, a Kanchenjunga view, Multicuisine Restaurant, there is no better place where one can experience a mix of Culture-Modern lifestyle-Natural beauty in the ambience of History. Though Mayfair Resorts situated downhill is shade bigger and perhaps even better in contemporary facilities, its location is big deterrent and that is why I would suggest Norkhill in Gangtok.

We went for an evening walk in the near by M G Road. The place is beautiful and looks quite out of India. It is an extremely busy market more so because at that time the Queen’s Baton Rally for Commonwealth 2010 was been held. The walk across the lanes is a good experience and if you want to have a quick bite then Cacao’s Café Shop is recommended The Cafeteria serves you good English Food and Snacks and is known for serving one of the best beverages in the town. Evening dinner at Norkhill was splendid. They had specially done Continental Food for us and as expected it came out really well. The Grilled Chicken and the Pineapple Soufflé were just terrific. After a long day it was time to unwind and needless to say it was much awaited.

Day 5: 13th July 2010.

After breakfast we proceeded to Tsomgo Lake or Changu Lake (12,210 Ft), a 40 km drive which takes three hours up and another three hours down. This lake is located very close to Nathula Pass which is the entry point to China termed as the “Silk Route" & remains frozen for most parts of the year. Legend has it that the Lamas use to forecast the future by studying the color of the lakes waters.

The place does not have any other place to visit and is mostly frozen during winters. Shonali did try the Yak Ride there and it was indeed quite fun. The constant drizzle was a bit of disappointment though. The food there at stalls were very basic and we tried the Wai Wai noodles. On our return we did stop at one of waterfalls (Kyongsnosla Waterfall) and it was really big and majestic. The very reason that we were in that part of the world during monsoon made us view innumerable waterfalls on the way.

Back in Gangtok by the evening and it was again to relax in the Norkhill. We went for an evening stroll to the market but then came back early as we wanted to catch some much needed rest. We went for an Indian Dinner and as has been the case the food was extremely good.

Day 6: 14th July 2010.

After the early Morning Breakfast and we headed to Rumtek Monastery, 24 kms from Gangtok was built in 1960 by His Holiness the Late 16th Gyalwa Karmapa and this is a replica of the original Kagyurpa Monastery in Tibet, a must see for every visitor, the seat of the “Kagyu Order” . Behind the Monastery is the lavishly decorated Karmae Nalanda Institute of Buddhist Studies which attracts students from the world over. Here one can find the most unique religious scriptures & art objects of the world

We skipped the Nam Nang VP/Ropeway but did manage to visit Do-Drul Chorten (Stupa) which is one of the most important stupas of Sikkim, built by the head of the Nyingma order- Trullshi Rimpoche in 1945. It contains rare details of Dorji Phupa, Holy Books, and Mantras and is encircled by 108 prayer wheels. Also the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology built in 1958 in traditional style, a renowned worldwide centre for the study of the Mahayana Buddhist philosophy & religion, a treasure house of rare “Thankas”, statues, over 200 Buddhist icons and prized objects of art. Our visit to the Sikkim Energy Park was also very good. This place is one of the new tourist spots which has come up in this city and has one of the best falls in Gangtok.

Post this visit we went back to Hotel and started for Pelling. Pelling @ 6800 Ft is a 5 hour journey (112 kms) via Ravangla (6800 Ft) , a small township and transit point to various destinations in South & West Sikkim, situated at the base of Meenam Hill (10300 Ft). We had our Lunch at small restaurant at Ravangla. The food was good and pretty reasonable. That place has host of Tibetan Food Joints offering almost the same cuisine. Ravangla incidentally is the same village from where Indian Soccer Icon Bhaichung Bhutia comes from. People love him there and are extremely passionate about soccer.

Post our Lunch we made a visit to the Tibetan Refugee Settlement Camp just above the town which houses the Kheunpheling Carpet Centre where one can buy fine Tibetan style woollen carpets and a fleeting visit to the Bon Monastery at Kewzing, 5 kms from Ravangla which is one of its kind in Sikkim, a symbol of the determination of the community to preserve their religious traditions.

After five hours of extremely tiring journey we finally reached Pelling and checked in at Elgin Mount Pandim. This Resort is located at one of the closest points to the Kanchenjunga range & one can see it up front touching the sky from Pelling. The scenic view from the top of the resort scanning across the deep valley, to the mystic heights of the Kanchenjunga range is something to be cherished & etched in memory. As with other properties of Elgin this one was also a heritage property and had twenty five rooms decorated tastefully. To our surprise we were the only guest staying there at that time. This resort was located in between the deep dense forest and it is part of a wild life zone. Post our dinner we enjoyed a cup of tea and that was it for the day.

Day 7: 15th July 2010.

The sightseeing route of Pelling is extremely bad. May be because of the monsoon or perhaps the very nature of terrain there the journey becomes extremely difficult most of the times. Our First stop that morning was the Rock Garden. To be honest I did not find anything interesting there and decided to let it go. Our next stop was the Khangchendzonga Water Falls. This by far was the best waterfall we came across in the entire stretch of seven days in that part of the country. We then went to Khecheopalri Lake also called the “Wish Fulfilling Lake”. It lies in the middle of deep dense forest surrounded by prayer flags and hills. The entire stretch is good two hours walk and it is suggested that you need to have a guide to help you find the way. Also there is definite danger of wild animals so it is always better to be in groups. Our next stop was Yuksom (5800 Ft). This is the first capital of the Kingdom of Sikkim & the coronation site of the first Chogyal. Evidence of the enthronement ceremony can still be seen in the form of stone seats and the footprint of the Head Lama on a stone. The stone throne constructed for the great event stands today at Norbugang which has been declared a Heritage site. If you have the time & energy, trek up to the Dubdi Monastery at Yuksom. This is a 30-35 mins trek into the forest negotiating steep slopes. It was built in 1701 after the consecration ceremony of the first Chogyal. It is an ideal place for Lamas seeking meditation and recluse. Dubdi means “the Hermit’s cell”. We skipped this particular part of the trip.

Though you visit only a few places but the distance in between the spots and the terrain makes the entire event of at least five to six hours. By the time we arrived at Pelling there were few more guests who had arrived in the resort and for a change it was better to see some crowd.

Day 8: 16th July 2010.

It is more than a week since we have left Delhi and the trip is nearing towards its end. Our next stop was Darjeeling but before we reached there we did make a short visit to The Pemayangtse Monastery (7021 Ft), 2.5 kms from Pelling. Built during the late 17th century, it is one of the oldest & most important monasteries of the Nyingmapa order of Buddhism in Sikkim. Even today, it is only the monks of this monastery who enjoy the title of ‘Tasang’ or pure monks. The monastery follows the Mindroling tradition & has 108 monks. The main attraction of the monastery is the wooden replica of Zangdog Palri, the celestial abode of Guru Padmasambhava, built by Serdup L Dorje Rinpoche in 1971.

The journey from Pelling to Darjeeling crossing Sikkim – West Bengal Border in the middle of those huge tea gardens is dangerous. The roads are single lane and become extremely narrow during monsoons. My personal suggestion is to avoid that route. Darjeeling @ 7100 ft is seventy two kms drive taking around three hours, Darjeeling is often called the” Queen of the hill stations”, its name derived from “Dorje-Line” which means the place of “Dorje”, the mystic thunderbolt. After a very scenic drive through the mountains, tea gardens etc., we reached Darjeeling by late afternoon & checked in at “The Elgin”, Darjeeling.

The Elgin – a 120 years old property, now given “Heritage Status” is located at 2 minutes walking distance from the mall. The Snug & Cozy feeling, Burma teak Furniture, Wooden floorboards and paneling, crackling log fireplaces, well thumbed volumes at the library, candle-lit dining tables with soft strains of the melodies wafting from the piano…. each has a story to tell. We went for an evening walk to mall and had snacks at Keventers. In case you want to buy some memorabilia this place has lot of shops selling the same. The stuff is good there and priced pretty reasonably. In case you want to buy some tea Golden Tea Tips is a suggested place.

It is Shonali’s Birthday today. We had a small celebration in the Hotel in the evening. The dinner was elaborate and it was really a good way to end a nice day.

Day 9: 17th July 2010.

Early morning trip to Tiger Hills was a casualty and we skipped it as we already had seen the Kanchenjunga range from Pelling. We also skipped Mirik a small town near Darjeeling known only for a lake. Instead we entered Nepal through the Pasupati Fatak and did shop around in the local market there. The shopping is just ok and you get basically pirated goods and T-Shirts mostly imported from China. I was looking for some Tibet Message T-Shirts but I could not come across the same in any of the shops.

The afternoon lunch was at Kugna near Keventers in the mall road. The food there was a passé. The pricing there was reasonable and the quantity they serve is more than one person can have at one go. This is one of the places where they serve authentic Tibetan food but for some reasons we did not like the cuisine. May be it was too bland or perhaps we were already full. Later during the evening Shonali did try Horse Riding at the Chou Rasta and it was fun to watch her on that pony trying her skills on that misty evening. We did buy Tea from the GoldenTeaTips Shop though. Being a Tea Lover it was amazing to note the various types and taste of tea these guys offer in and around that place.

We returned to hotel early and went straight for the dinner. We had to pack our bags because we had to check out of the Hotel early morning. A week long trip to Estern Himalayas was coming to end with bunch of memoirs forever in our minds.

Naxalism n All That !!!

So what according to you has made the Headlines in the last month or so in your Morning Newspapers or Evening News Flicks... Is it IPL Drama or The Lalit Modi Tweet... Is it UPA One Year in Office or the Horrific Air Tragedy in Mangalore... Chances are neither any of that not Even Vishy Anand's Historic Feat would have captured your attention so much as much as the Dantewada Massacre and the Latest Killing of 150 odd people in the Train Accident allegedly purported by Maoist.


By no means I do support horrific killing and the Naxal Violence but it is critical to note why does this happens and what is the root cause... Farmers forcefully getting deprived of their arable land for stupid Industrialisation Process, Local Police and Security Forces acting as goons and raping villagers and tribals, No Job opportunities for Locals and Economic Disparity are some of the common reasons. You can add to that Local Level Political Links with Maoists but what exactly is the root cause of Naxalism and why are they doing this off so suddenly.


Naxal Violence in India is about 40 year old and its main concern is exploitation of poor by rich in the country. The governments have done nothing to lessen exploitations in these 40 years but to solve the problem, have labeled these people as terrorists to satisfy themselves as performers. These armed personnel working against the state are called 'terrorists' by the state while they call themselves as 'revolutionaries'. They are revolutionaries or terrorists matters little in the light of what is the net result and what is the cause thereof.


Exploitation of one human-being by another is inhuman, particularly when the exploited is weak and helpless. Before independence, Indian masses were exploited by the British rulers to serve their ends and the Indian psyche was tuned to that exploitation. Later, under diametrically opposite leaderships of Gandhi and Bose, freedom struggle came to be successful winning India her precious freedom. People expected end of their exploitation by rulers of the country.


The Problem started when none of the two survived to take the mantle of free India. Nehru took over reins of power and shared it with pro-British princely families of the British period, thus nullifying gains of freedom to the country. In the so-called democratic elections, votes of the poor masses are purchased, and in return they are being deprived of even basic health-care, education, justice, and other facilities of humane living. Their hard-earned livelihood money is siphoned back to accounts of ruling politicians through a highly corrupt bureaucracy to keep them poor and illiterate for ever. But still there is a change in spectrum of exploiters.


In British India, British government exploited India as a whole for wealth through landlords appointed by the government. In turn, the landlords exploited the poor masses to serve their interests along with those of the British government. Thus, the number of exploiters of the masses was hardly 1 percent of the total population who lead lavish lifestyles. In free India, ruling politicians share their power of exploitation of the masses with government employees. Thus, politicians and administrators make a formidable team of exploiters of the masses. This population of exploiters make about 15 percent of the total population of the country. This is the root cause of discontentment of masses. As a result, 85 percent of country's wealth has reached in hands of 15 percent population of India. Classic Pareto for sure but I am not too sure whether this is good or not. Since this population of exploiters has evolved from the masses itself, average lifestyle of the people is improved, giving an impression that India is making economic progress after freedom.


India has been a slave country for about 2,000 years making Indian psyche submissive to oppressions. This has been preventing a bloody mass-revolution of French Revolution type, while condition of masses in India today is much worse than that in France at the time of bloody revolution. But all are not of that submissive nature and a few dare to raise their voices and arms against the exploitation. This is genesis of Naxalite movement of India.


The Famous Chalta Hain Attitude and Submissive Nature is the root cause of the most of the ills plaguing Indian Society. Individuals should rise above "Their Own Good" and should start looking for "Common Good". Individuals Should voice their opinions on matters of national interest more than the Friday Blockbuster or the Last Night Cricket Match and make themselves heard at every possible forum. And more importantly, perhaps critically important that not only you vote next time but also make people near you vote in elections.


Trust Me it helps !!! It Surely Does !!!