Tag: bollywood

Best Movies of 2020: 

This Year was very different in many ways. 
Even for streaming movies. 
And since many of us did not have the opportunity to go to the cinemas to watch movies! We Watched the ones that were on our Bucket list for a long time. So here are the best of movies I watched. 
Two Popes: The World Trade Centre: A Film based on a true story about two cops who survived the 9/11 and this is a film you should watch. To know how a western country was completely taken by surprise and how the two survive to tell their story.  
Parasite: The Huge difference between the Rich and Poor is shown here. And Once the Greed is unstoppable. They can go to any limits to make sure their plan is successful. And We humans are just like Parasites!! 
Contagion: This film gave us a little teaser of what was to come about five years ago. But very few of us thought about something like this would ever happen! We rarely take the film as reality. But always think about it as a fictitious medium. But This film was so accurate with what we have all gone through this year in the same/Similar Ways. 
Just Mercy: With The Black Lives Matter Movements being one of the most talked-about global issues. This film talks about the way ‘Blacks’ are being treated and how one Black Lawyer helps to get his accused justice. This is a must-watch. 
Rocketman: An Autobiography on Elton John one of the greatest pianist and the film is about how he came to be known as Elton John. on Amazon prime Video 
Richard Jewell: An innocent man who initially a hero to save lives when he finds bombs in a live event. But later is accused as a culprit and how he has to prove his innocence by Clint Eastwood a must watch on Amazon prime Video 
Jojo Rabbit: This is a sarcastic film about a Hitler Fanatic and his relationship with his mother. This was a very entertaining film on Disney Hotstar.
Ford vs Ferrari: A Story about Carroll Shelby ( Matt Demon)  an automotive designer, and Ken Miles(Christian Bale) a race car driver who come together to build a trailblazing vehicle and compete against the Ferrari race cars.Available to watch on Disney hot star. 
Best Bollywood Movies 2020: 
This Year! There haven’t been many Bollywood movies as such that have been a memorable watch. But Surprisingly all the best movies! I watched this year were based on Woman. Right from Shakuntala Devi who was known as the Human-Computer to Gunjan Saxena or for that matter Thappad. 
Thappad: Why Should one remain Quiet if one’s isn’t respected? 
Gunjan Saxena:  A Story about India’s first Woman Air Force Officer/Pilot, The Story is about how Ggunjan’s father pursued her daughter to fulfil her dream of being a pilot. The story also highlights how the academy was open to having a woman in their academy but did not have all the basic services like a restroom and changing room. This film was also controversial as the Air Force academy refused and accused the filmmaker of making the film slightly fictional.on  Amazon Prime Video 
Shakuntala Devi: An Autobiographical/Biographical film about Shakuntala Devi who was India’s best mathematicians and this is her story as told by her Daughter. This is a must-watch everybody to know about one of the greatest minds and her struggle and achievements. The Film stars Vidya Balan as a lead! Who completely did justice to the role. On Amazon Prime Video 

2020 Thoughts!

Ever since 2020 began! 
It’s been setting up new challenges every day. 
Two months into the year and we were all dealing with a pandemic that even more than six months later doesn’t seem to end. 
As the year moved ahead! We lost a legend and one of the best actors in our Hindi Film Industry. Just when we were coming out of these two shocking deaths. We were thrown a mysterious death of another actor. Which was cited as a suicide, but reports were pointing to murder, three months later we still aren’t sure whether it’s a suicide or a murder. 
While there was just a hand full of those who questioned and wanted justice to be served for the late actor as it was strongly pointing towards a murder 
But, Things started to change when we were forced to pick up a side as one of the prime suspects in the investigation was arrested for Drugs and also used PR tactic’s to defend herself exclusively with two Broadcasting channels without first being questioned by The CBI. 
Weeks later, An Actor who began the fight of justice for the late actor, who had also being vocals and her ”Nepotism” Conversation took an ugly turn for. Leaving her with no movies offers. Plans to come to Mumbai and is not only threatened for her remarks a couple of days ago for comparing the city and situation with an enemy territory but just a few hours before her arrival to The City of Dreams! Her Office is tarnished citing reasons, illegal construction work. 
Mind you all these series of events are taking place while India is at its peak on the Coronavirus. 
The economy has hit it’s lowest since we had our independence and our in the middle of a war with another neighbour of ours. 
And what hurts the most is people who are considered role models, people who are looked up by Millions and Billions not just from our country, but from around the world. 
Haven’t spoken about anything at all from the injustice or justice for a late actor whose death remains a mystery, For an actor who’s office has been attacked wrongly. 
Or for the matter of where our country is headed in terms of our economic mess, How one should be tackling the pandemic or for that matter about the tensions amongst the borders, Are they all scared to open their mouths, Are these the people we aspire to be like? 
Where is the Freedom, If our well-known celebrities themselves can’t speak about anything? 
Is this the country we want to live in? Where there isn’t any democracy any more, but just dictatorship from all sides… Where power is also being misused by the powerful and not used the way it should be used. 
Where we speak up in minutes and condemn the West, but can’t really address and speak about the issues that are taking place in your motherland. 

Jaisalmer: Rajasthan February 2020!!

After travelling to nearly most of the prominent cities of the state. (Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur ) Jaisalmer was one that I had not visited yet or hadn’t experienced yet.

But, a Weekend Gateway that was planned was the perfect chance to Witness the city in it’s truest sense. Immediately after coming back from Nagpur, The next morning, I had taken the flight for Jaisalmer- There was a huge excitement of going to a new place, and that was from the moment we took off to the moment we were landing, A total Desert area I hadn’t witnessed anything like this since a long time and THE Best place in Jaisalmer SURYAGHAR was my subject and venue for the weekend. And what a property- Sunrise point to a sunset point and the structure like a fort was like the perfect combination of the destination and property. The other most important highlight remains the Dunes journey – Photographing and recording the sunset until we reached the venue, where we going to experience a new “Dawn” We had a lively night with entertainment, Guest dancing to DJ Tunes Until a Guest Deejayed the party until the end. The party went all night and we called it a day at 6:30 am at the dunes, but captured and lived the sunrise on the journey back to our hotel.

Jaisalmer has museums and fort which one must visit on their visit to the city, But should also experience Sand Dunes when they are in the city.

#ARVINDDUBASH50TH

#LFW 2019 !

Lakme Fashion Week was something that I always wanted to experience to know why do people rave about it so much,And what happens in a fashion show. But,Then again I had to wait for a couple of years to witness #LFW.

At the entrance , outside they have photo opportunities with Branding all over, A cafe styled counter and everybody drinking and smoking and soaking in the light showers with an Ariel view of Mumbai. 8th Floor they had designers participating and showcasing their collection. These weren’t the one’s that were going to showcase their collection at the show. These were talented designers, Who were part of the most talked about fashion show. 45 minutes before the gates open to the auditorium, where the “Runway” Show will happen. We are all Queued up. The Queue was long, We are coming in .Moments later,We hear there is a slight delay, as the models aren’t ready.

We are literally Warming up ,by sweating it out waiting for the gates to open.

Gates open,Guest are making their way into the auditorium,As we reach the gates we are stopped. And Preferences to the Guest who have a designated seat number, make their way to the auditorium, We just hoped we shouldn’t be sent back home, If the auditorium is filled up to the capacity. Minutes later we make our way through the auditorium.Looking at the stage, the lights the people out there who have come to watch the show. And the whole ambience.

The Set, Was like a night at the Desert. With Metal Catus and bushes.

The Music began, The Models started making their way through and posing for the Paparazzi. The Collection was subtle and colourful by the designer. The designer was Kunal Rawal. Who’s one of the Men designers I admire for the collection and style. The style is normally Indian,Elegant and simple. The collection he showcased was known as Confluence. Right from Shirts, to jackets to pants all so simply stylish. In the End It was the best evening to attend the lake fashion show and that too of Kunal Rawal – who’s collection of classic Indian wear is the best in the business.

2018 Dairies !!

2018 has been a Journey filled with lots of travel Stories. Right From Jaipur to Jodhpur in India to Monoco and Morocco for Work. And not to forget the highlight –  Japan for Family Holiday. 
Culture
Experiencing the Rajasthan culture in India to experiencing the Japanese culture and living the  Moroccan life. 
All these places either had Food, lifestyle or architecture. And these  Culture  became another Journey in itself.
Books worth the Read In 2018. 
Journeys through the books. 
Starting from Exiting West to Landing at the port of Mokha and Many reads in between from open by Andre Agassi to “Killing Commendatore by Murakami  below are the top 5 reads of 2018.
1.Exit West – by Mohsin Hamid  stories of immigrants. 
2.Homo Deus – by Yuval Harari  How the Technology  is collecting data and using it. 
3.Born a Crime – by Trevor Noah A true story of a comedian born in South Africa with a mother being a black and father a white. 
4.Monk of Mokha –  by Dave  Eggers – Story of how The port of Mocha coffee travelled across the international waters.
5.Killing Commendatore – by Murakami
Noteworthy Movies of 2018 
1.Puzzle -How a simple gift of a puzzle changes the perspective of one individual 
2.Crazy Rich Asians – The Big fat Indian wedding going global 
3.Searching – How technology helps track down a father daughter and her murderer. 
4.Ben is Back – A  young drug addict and his mother’s story to come in terms with reality. 
And the Hindi film industry had many movies to choose to watch this year! 
But there a few out there you couldn’t miss at all . 
1.Pad Man by R.Balki was one of the great stories the year began with and continued till Raid, The income tax issue can sometime come as a surprise-Ajay Devgn needs to experiment.
2.Hichki -Though a inspiration from the west.Brought Rani Mukherji Back as a actor and the production house for their content. 
3.Missing the only missing from this psychology thriller was the audience who missed one of the best thrillers of the year.
4.October – Simple stories are the most difficult to tell.And October by Shoojit Sircar was one such story.
5.Beyond the cloud by Majid Majidi -Had the world  take notice of Ishan Khattar as an actor & performer 
Raazi,Soorma,Parmanu,Andhadhun,Badhaai Ho ! And Manmarziyaan were a few movies to watch out.