Jessica Lall

I had been reading some blogs regarding NOKJ and people had some concerns about the movie. I liked the movie and felt it was fair to the actual events.

• There is a perception that Sabrina Lall was a brave, spirited woman and Vidya's character was not fair to that image. Here is what she said to Tehelka in her interview: "the moment Manu Sharma got bail in 2002 January I stopped going to the court. I told my father I m sorry I am not up to it anymore; I am fed up. I grieved with my father." http://www.tehelka.com/story_main20.asp?filename=Ne100706The_Sharmas_CS.asp. And her emotions after the judgement when Manu Sharma was acquitted "like in most of the situations one could presume somewhere in the back of your mind you can feel things are not in the right direction….but it still hits you. its hard because it puts a closure on something you were waiting for a longtime. Somehow you get above it. That’s it. There is no where else to go, then on. This is the end. Due to all the problems in my family, in my own personal life, it was terrible, you feel let down,…it was not like bolt of the blue…one was expecting it." I think the movie was true to all these emotions
• Vidya is looking quite dowdy compared to Jessica. If you look at Sabrina pics anywhere she is nowhere close to her sister. I also liked that Vidya was de-glam in the true sense... without make up in maximum scenes. They have even show the open pores on her face.
• NOKJ had NDTV instead of Tehelka. It is a movie... NDTV is known by common man. How many know about Tehelka? Due credit was given to it in the end. It is just a movie... not a documentary

First cake in new microwave

Chocolate cake- Pilsbury cake mix. It tastes as good as the one made from scratch

Chocolate icing- Pilsbury ready icing... I think the consistency of the one made from scratch is better
I didn't have the patience to even the cake.

Reminders to myself:

• Next time use a bigger tin container. The cake tripled in size and was shaped like a mountain. For icing it should have a flat top
• Remove the top layer for icing and use the icing when it is still hot. Maybe putting the vessel on another one with hot water will help

I can't eat it 'coz of the calories and there is nobody else to eat. Want a bite? I will parcel it.

No one killed Jessica

Hiya... I watched this one alone and woke up 7 am to catch the 10.45 am show. It is a damn movie... reality based... less sensation... no songs (except in the background)... more facts... Vidya and Rani both are good. I don't know why they are having a cold war, they just have 2-3 scenes together. It shows that media can make and also break. In this case it overturned a judgement.

I love Amit Trivedi- the music director. Whether it is Dev D, Udaan or NOKJ the music blends into the movie. Generally, music directors have a style which is repeated in most songs- A R Rehman, Pritam, Bappi Lahiri, Anu Malik etc... not so with AT. The music fits the movie and not the other way round. And this coming from me who does not understand music at all is huge.

I was googling the Jessica Lal case and was surprised to read that Manu Sharma was found partying last year even though he was supposed to be in prison. Has justice really been served or can the rich and powerful get out of anything?

I was sad to know Peeya Rai Chaudhary (Kiran of Hip Hip Hurray) is married to the coward Shayan Munshi. I have always liked Peeya and love watching her in the smallest roles. Sigh!!! I think they are separating. Jessica Lal case is not definitely not the reason for it.

And yet I wonder- was Shayan really wrong? I mean... what would you do if someone threatened you and asked you to lie in court? If the mad person can shoot without provocation would he think twice before shooting Shayan if he has been honest?

We discover our true character only during such tests.

I hate this man- Ram Jethmalani. Many years back I was reading a book written by him about how he won cases. He had clearly written about how he manipulated the situation to let the criminal go scot free instead of proving what is right.

I had been following Ruchika Girhotra case and was saddened that despite all the uproar the accused was given a sentence of 1.5 years imprisonment. Were the 19 years of court proceedings worth it? A million dollar question. Does the fight ever end?

Tasks accomplished

Tasks accomplished today:

• Grocery shopping
• Parlour visit
• Gym
• Cleaning of containers

I cleaned out all the expired food from containers. There was a lot of it- mainly spices. I need to go grocery shopping again tomorrow for the spices. Last week I started lower body workout. One of the gym guys asked me; "Why are you doing only upper body workout and not lower body?"

Me: 'Coz nobody asked me to

I assumed the guy was an instructor and have approached him 2-3 times for my workout. Today I realized he is probably another guy from the complex who visits the gym. I need to confirm this tomorrow.

I found lower body workout (lbw) quite easy and less strenuous... until the next day. My legs ached for 4 days... I could barely walk and climbing/getting down the stairs was torture. But, I still wore heels (no heels on 31st Dec??? No ways) and drove the car. After 1 day KC stopped believing me. I was in pain for 4 days and pretended to be on the 5th day... to harass KC. Thankfully, KC's friends who are regular gymmers were sympathetic.

Today was day 2 of lbw. After 40 mins of work out I was done but decided to stick around 15 more mins. I will probably pay for the over enthusiasm tomorrow.

Last week when KC was here I managed to cook a lot. The food was better than my cook's... alu onion paratha, dosa- I have never cooked such amazing dosas, red thai curry- which KC did not even taste, chapattis, tomato onion soup etc. I will experiment more now that the microwave is here.

The plan is to watch 'No one killed Jessica' tomorrow... wanted to go tonight but then there will be nothing to do tom.

Btw... sale in Zara at Phoenix... I wish it is atleast 70% off or better still the clothes are given free. I could kill for them. The clothes and fabric is out of this world. I will have a peek on Monday at Phoenix Mills. Zara is far better than Mango.

Chalo... good night. Here is to a peaceful Sunday.

Just some thoughts

Hey... sorry... I have been gone long. It has been a hectic week. I already need a break. Last night I was stuck in traffic for an hour. Thats what makes driving so tiring. I wanted to blog every night but the hectic schedule didn't give me time.

New Year's was bad... we went for buffet dinner to Park at Belapur. The food was horrible... we rushed out within 30 mins. I don't know why we try so hard to make New Year's Eve special... I think the best NYE was at home... watching late night TV and having Maggi at midnight. What bliss!!!

I just have 2 resolutions:

• Grow the hair on my head (need to specify... there should not be any misunderstandings later). I have had shoulder length hair for most of my life so I want to grow them this year. It means no trim for next 6 months which means I will look like hell. The trend for 2011 is predicted to be short hair but... I guess like always I will tag behind
• Lose weight... the target is 1 kg per month and it is not as easy as it sounds. I have not been to the gym for 3-4 days due to the schedule. But I will keep trying

Thats it. No other plans or resolutions. I am too pessimistic with my life to plan it now.

I am looking forward to buying a microwave this week. Any suggestions? I will be able to experiment with my cooking now.

Btw... the Hush Puppies store in Nirmal Lifestyle has a clearance sale- upto 50% off. Check it out if you are near Mulund. Good stuff for around 1000 bucks... for HP it is cheap and affordable.

The SRK episode on Koffee with Karan was awfully boring. All that crying shying... what nautanki.

Investments for 2010 are done... planning for 2011 has begun.

Band Baaja Baarat

Umm... I had heard and read good reviews about this one and was eager to watch it. Everyone knows what the story is about... Indian weddings.

The first half is good... Ranveer can act quite well... better than Imran Khan. Anushka also acts well... better than Deepika. All her movies have been a hit and yet she is not considered one of the top heroines.

The 2nd half is torture.... typical Bollywood stuff. I don't understand why sex is equated to love in Bollywood. They should know better by now. It is the same old formula where hero and heroine sleep around... heroine falls in love while it was just sex for the hero. I also don't understand how they have sex only once... why don't they do it again if they have enjoyed the act?

The end is extremely tacky like any Bollywood movie.

If you haven't watched it already catch on the telly.

Megamind

Whatta movie. I loved it. A superhero movie with a twist.

I do not like 3d movies... the glasses are dark and when scenes are in 2d they are not clear with glasses on. So I have to wear glasses for 3d and remove them for 2d. Very irritating. In most theatres we have to pay a security deposit for the glasses which is returned on leaving. At Cinemax they made us BUY them for 30 bucks. They are cardboard glasses with 3d lens. We bought it for Gulliver's travels and forgot to carry them for this movie. Anyone going for 3d can borrow/buy them from me.