A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini

It's long since I came to the blog with new site. No problem as though most of the world don't know / forgot this blog exists.However I didn't write so far because nothing I came across excites me in this year nothing tickled my bones to write a post. I decided to broke the lock by writing about this book.

I never read the second book of most of my admired writers except Chetan Bhagaht. So when I startted with this book I recollected how Khaled narrated the story in the "Kite Runner" which is of it's kind. I liked that book because it shows some part of Afghanistan history with story mostly targeted to the characters and the incidents around them. That story telling was one of my favorite ones. I afraid not his second book should be failure with me. I was very wrong with my instincts. When I gone after few chapters I couldn't resist myself to complete the whole book. I complete 1/4 th of the book in my first sitting and the rest in second sitting.

What I loved in this book, the book captured / carried along with it is the history of Afaghanistan when the characters of the book lived. The protagonists are two female "Mariam" and "Lalia". Khaled depicted the book very well by telling the story with these characters. I surely can say this book is not much complicated as his first one. I am lucky enough not to miss this book.
I loved the book. So I belive you will as well.

Up in the Air

There are people living who make the money from the cry of people surrounded. This story revolves around one such guy. His name is Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), his job is to fire people. He always wants to be alone and uncommitted guy in relationship. The company he works get the job of firing other company’s people, since the boss in the other companies are afraid/uncomfortable in firing their own employees. This guy lives mostly in the air as he has to travel more not only in firing people, hoping to hit 10 million miles (more than traveling to moon) which favors in speaking with head pilot and printing his name as the 7th in the world to hit 10 millions. He meets Alex (Vera Farmiga) in a stay in hotel and trying to have "casual" relationship (no commitment).

Then the Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) appeared in the company where Ryan works and proposed an idea to his boss. The idea is to have video conference to fire people instead of actually sitting in front of the people.She is new to job, however every one of her colleagues except Ryan accepts the idea proposed by her. The boss wants to have Natalie to travel with Ryan to know more about the job and in idea of convincing him the new technology and its cost-cutting scenarios. So now Natalie travels with Ryan and seeing how people react when getting fired in real. After the travel Ryan felt like having serious relationship with Alex. What happens to them? Why Natalie quits the job? Forms the rest of the story

George Clooney did his part well he is very good as usual. Doing the role best suited for this age, man our people should learn from him. I was really surprised by the acting of a woman, as you guessed its Anna Kendrick as Natalie. What acting from this girl? I was really thrilled after seeing her acting. The situation where she is helpless when people she is firing threatened her for committing suicide, helplessly crying like a baby in the airport in front of Clooney for her boyfriend breaking with her, the mixed reaction of surprise, proud and excitement when recommendation letter for her from Clooney being read out by interviewer are really really awesome. I would say even if George Clooney is not getting best actor for this movie, surely this girl will win for best supporting actress in the Oscars.

Every department of the movie did their part very well with top notch.

My Rating : 3/5

Sherlock Holmes

There are few movies which depict the hero character as the mixture of intelligence and moron and this is one kind of such a movie. The movie starts with Holmes and his friend (assistant with will) Watson disturbing a magic ritual where a girl is sacrificing herself in front of villain. The villain got arrested for the charge of murders and sentenced to death. Then after hanging he escaped from the tomb he buried. This arouses fear among fellow people. There come our hero Holmes to untie the mystery behind the each following sequences and how he reveals there are no magic and only pure science forms the base of the story. In the meanwhile Holmes brilliant ex-wife conspires him and what she is doing lead the movie to expect the audiences for another part.
The plot is extra ordinarily good. They never mentioned the plot is in London till the construction of great bridge is shown. I didn’t read book before so I didn’t know where the plot is. The cinematography is really top notch, the special effects is really worth a mention. The background music is brilliant. I really want to get the sound track.
The actors perfectly fit the bill. The Robert Downey Jr as Holmes and Jude Law as Watson are brilliant. Holmes watching every minute detail from everyone is awesome and Watson unwilling interest in each time is shown exactly by the actor. The director can easily keep a feather on his cap. The time when it ends with Holmes saying “The case reopened” followed by cartoon is brilliant.

As a whole, it’s a joyous ride you shouldn’t miss
My Rating : 3.5 / 5

FRIENDS

The time I am writing this is almost midnight after completed watching all the seasons of FRIENDS. Long back when I was studying college I heard there was a sitcom (situational comedy) called "FRIENDS" running in the channel and it was good. Then my brother told me that serial was good. I didn't get a clue how come a sitcom been running for 10 years is so famous around the TV.

That mystery was broken a month back when I get all the seasons of FRIENDS from a shop. I doubted it was not worth a money, but that idea was broken into delicates fell on the ground when I completed seeing first 2-3 episodes of the first season. As each season proceeds I can't get my eyes out of those. It's like I glued to the TV. Each season as it proceeds shows how good they have created each to suit the contemporaries. No wonder that sitcom went for 10 years (1994-2004) successfully with overwhelming support from people.

Storyline:

Oneline:

How a group of six friends living in Manhattan, NY?

The first season starts with six friends sitting in a cafe and speaking about sex. As each season proceeds the serial shows how each friends living, caring and starting new future. Believe me I never felt one episode boring out of more than 100 episodes (rough figure). Every episode is soaked in comedy leaves viewers burst into to tears. All the episodes were created around these six friends. It represents the lives of USA youths and how they leads the life. Every character (friend) is unique of their way and the episodes always tailored keeping mind in that. If you ask me which one is best, I can't really really choose one.

Characters:

As per the title card - Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Ross. The best part is everything should have planned and the cast are suiting the characters exactly as it was expected. Everyone in the cast played their part in par with the excellence. It's being David Schwimmer as Ross, Jennifer Anniston as Rachel, Courtney Cox as Monica, Lisa kudrow as phoebe, Matte LeBlanc as Joey and Matthew Perry as Chandler... they suited exactly to the bill.

Rachel - considered hot among all the girls, her character doesn't have much uniqueness but I love it. Jennifer Aniston played the part very well especially the look she gives when she caught in unavoidable situation.

Monica - passionate,hyper-organized, ultra-clean character. Ross's younger sister.No other thouhgts other than "wow" about the performance of Courtney Cox. I love all her character, especially a scene where she gives timetable for Rachel to get training for "BridseMaid" of her in her marriage is highlight. There are many I just mentioned one.

Phoebe - freak out girl playing guitar and masseuse. Lisa kudrow completed the character with her nuance. When Ross ask Phoebe to tell the heating machine with five letters word she first say "radiator", then Ross tell it's five letters, when again she says "rdtor". It was the moment I couldn't control my laugh. It's all because of Lisa Kudrow.

Chandler - always considered as feminine taylored, gay by others. Husband of Monica with no control over the secrets. Matthew did his part very well with his cheeky smile. The expression after spitting the secret by Matthew each time is really good.

Joey - considered as child, unmatured man. Soap opera actor (Dr.Drake Rumray) eats lot and sleeps with girls lot, considered as pet for all the characters. Matt LeBlanc is best. Especially the late reaction for everything by Matt LeBlanc is best.

Ross - palentologolist in profession. Sensitive, charming character in the serial. I loves his character. David Schwimmer really really excels in this character. Monica, Ross when joins creates LOOOLLLLL. David's wierd look after slipping the words from tongue or when situation going out of control is best among all.

The characters are simple but the director and actors made the sitcom very interesting. When the season ends all the characters are shown with new begining and getting in their own way. I couldn't believe it ended. When ending the serial, they completed emotionally, but it's worth an end. Friends , don't every miss FRIENDS. It's all worth a watch.

Hats off to creators:
David Crane and Marta Kauffman

If you ask me whether that kind of serial is possible in India? In the present situation where mega serial soaked with sadness favors, no it's not possible. There are many movie stars did cameo in this serial (Brad Pitt, Robin Williams to mention few).However I love the change in situation soon to get environment to make serials like FRIENDS.

Aayirathil Oruvan

If you could imagine a movie directed by Sankar, Maniratnam and Bala then it would be this movie. The gigantism of Sankar, perfection of Maniratnam in technical aspect and ruthless morbid feeling from Bala are all combined perfectly in this movie.Selvaraghavan can fix himself a feather on his cap for this movie.

I am not going to tell the story here, because that would be the spoiler of the mood. When you about to enter the theatre prepare yourself for seeing movie with mixture of reality, and sur realities. None will get a clue after interval if you are not following the movies perfectly. I won't prefer to get the families to the movie. The gore, blood is more than enough for your family to throw up, however if you like pscho movie genre then you can eat popcorn in the post-interval scenes.

Coming to technicians and actors...

I never thought Reema sen would perform like this before, she did an extra-ordinary performance and ofcourse Parthiban. Karthick seems to be in the mood of Paruthi Veeran so don't expect much from him. Andriya did a neat job for the role given to her.

The cinemautography, art directors, co-artists are all top-notch. Raamji should given a special mention here for cinemautography.

The music of movie is a drawback in songs. The re-recording is a new kind in Tamil movies and G.V. Prakash should given a special mention for that.

I love to see the movie again for showing the reality of how the kingdom in earlier TamilNadu which is not like the fairy tales we read so far and shown in the old movies so far. Selvaraghavan as a director he proved. If you ask me, will it get the run-at-the box office and collect all the money (more than 30 crores) I would doubt that. Atlast it should be worthy to mention the guts of the producer to produce this kind of movie

Rating : 3/5

Maiden advice of 2010

I never thought I will get an advice from the stranger when I woke up with heavy headache on Jan 02, 2010 (Saturday). After got up from the bed I took shower and went to T.Nagar. I was supposed to meet Rajrajan my ex-colleague in iLink. It was 10.45 in the morning and he told he will be there at 11 - 11.30, so I decided to take my breakfast in Saravana Bhavan (for strangers - its a famous hotel in TamilNadu), pondy bazar. I parked my two wheeler in the hotel parking area which happens to be the pedestrians path, colloquially platform. The platform is located such that one side of the platform in the length-wise is attached to hotel and the other side is having slope for vehicles to get in that.
I ordered mini tiffin (assorted collection of micro miniature of 4 main items being served). While waiting I was overhearing the conversation of the couple in my front seat. I supposed they are not married yet, because the guy was speaking and the girl was listening. He was speaking non-stoply about one of his onsite experience (he must be a S/W engineer. WOOWWW! what a finding) where he won the bet he had with his friends for $600 in a cricket game. The girl was listening fully to that. In the mean while I completed my break fast and ordered a coffee. By the time I asked my bill their bill has come too. My bill amount was Rs 103, though the name of the item is mini it costs Rs 74. I payed my bill and came out. I was thinking about how guys are flirting with girls and I considered that boy I overheard as a self-boasting guy. My friend Rajarajan showed with his bike by the time when that couple came out to take their two wheeler which was 4-5 vehicles side where I parked mine. Since I saw my friend I was about to take my vehicle.
Time for Advice:
At this time an old lady (completely stranger) came near my vehicle, she grabbed my arm which made me turn to her, this she thought should get my attention to her and haphazardly it did. Then she started "Son! you're parking your vehicle in the platform which almost occupies 3/4 of it's place where elders like ours walk" everyone including that couple, hotel securities staring us " if you park vehicles here only place left is the slope at the end of the platform where we can't walk.. please think about that.. we are elders how we can walk if you park vehicles like this. Think before you are doing it next time. These days youths are not respecting the old people. From this starting of new year 2010, decide yourself to respect the elders". After she left I realized everyone staring at me, the only thing I did is smiling as I thanked the lady in my heart for not slapping me. Now the couple grinned at me in bizarre and the guy replied my smile to him with nod of understanding my situation. I relaized lately that this is the first advice I got this year, even not from my mother yet.

News - Grabbed my attention

1) Don in Action
Dubai underworld don "Dawood" himself threatens one of the leading builders of Dubai to pay the debts. This itself tells how much his stakes depends on Dubai real-estate.
Read more..http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5325202.cms

2) Proffessor earning in outsourcing
Earning more than a lakh per month seems to be convenient for professors, this to evaluate the essays written by students of foriegn university.
Read more..http://business.rediff.com/report/2009/dec/11/indian-professors-clear-outsourcing-test.htm