Wednesday, September 07, 2022

The New Normal

Looking back at this old post today I cannot help noting that it marked the last milestone in my blog before the unthinkable paralyzed human life on earth as we knew it.

It has been made clear, and one has to acknowledge the message and admit to the fact, that what we knew as normal life now stands upgraded by means of the grave challenge we all had to endure, and haven't yet been able to completely surmount. 

While taking a moment to acknowledge the new normal that emphasizes masking up and distancing, I also want to record my personal fondness that has grown in favour of avoiding any physical proximity that is not absolutely necessary. Should one venture that such a distancing bug has always been latent in my nature, one may perhaps not be entirely off the mark.

I do hope the new normal is accepted on a larger scale in societies and professions that allow it, so it can stand on more permanent grounds within those segments. 

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Movie Review: Bhool Bhulaiya 2

At the start I'll just say 5.5/10. Read on for my reasons.

In any such endeavours that attempt a second part, specially having achieved hands down success on the first, and having little or no continuity with the second, it is always known to need to match up to, if not surpass, the expectations of the original. Hence the review will be comparative. So is this.

I had gone to the theater after watching the official trailer, and even though the first thing I thought I'll miss was Akshay Kumar, it wasn't so. Not too deeply in any case. The lead actor did his best to fill the veteran's shoes. Some of the demeanor of the lead actor were quite reminiscent of the veteran.

The same cannot be said about the lead actress, but not for lack of effort. Kiyara just wasn't given enough material to even have a chance to attempt a remotely close enough rendition to the lead actress in the original. That of course makes sense, as in this case the lead actress was Tabu. Yet, in one musical scene Kiyara does attempt a somewhat similar rendition to Vidya, and I felt it was reasonably close. Although the story didn't really focus on that part, which was sad for her.

There were other differences too, which struck as odd. Unlike the first part, here it isn't just a psychological thriller, but there's a hint of an actual ghost? And in that light, some of the antics of the comedic characters were a tad overkill. No complaints about Sanjay Mishra, he did what he does best. Kalsekar, however, seemed misplaced and underutilized.

Finally, what peeved me most was the mutilation of one of the most identifying characteristic of the movie: the song, Ami je tomar. The tone and pace of the song were so lazily altered, and it was only partly rendered(?) that it sounded almost like a badly made spoof. I'm not a musician, but I think the music director played with the "re" note in part 2, trying to make it sound more bluesy, but in the bargain ended up destroying the real spirit and flavour of the song.

So yes, like I said, I cannot give it more than 5.5 overall.

Sunday, February 21, 2021

Review: Wakefit Orthopedic Memory Foam Mattress

Wakefit Orthopedic Memory Foam Mattress (75 x48 x8)

Overall rating: 7.5/10.

It is mostly as advertised. Almost fits the description. My most important observations are:
 1. Cover: The outer cover of the mattress I received is white on both sides (not white on the soft side and dark gray on the hard side as described). So I had to unzip it and look inside to determine which side to place on top.
 2. Foam: For the overall 8" mattress, the 1" memory foam layer is not really all that effective. Also, it seems to be a low density foam. It is soft and comfy when you press your fingers on it, but you can hardly feel it when you sleep. Both sides feel equally firm when you actually lay down on it.
 3. Heat: For the first full week and couple of days more, it did feel a bit hot. Later it felt okay. Whether it equalised to the room temperature, or whether my body just got used to the heat, I'm still not too sure.
 4. I must say I covered it with their waterproof fitted style protector immediately after opening it, since the cover fabric is vulnerable to flying dust particles (such as any cottony dust falling from ceiling fan etc.). On top of that I put my regular bed sheet. And to compensate for the firmness and heat, I also put a microfiber blanket on top of the bed sheet.

Overall not a bad buy. I'd say tolerable. But I did expect a little more. Hence my rating is 7.5/10.

Monday, December 28, 2020

Welcome 2021

This year was a priceless lesson about our illusion of control, and it has gently clarified who's really boss. We must humbly internalise the lesson before it is too late. Let's not go extinct yet. 

Many have lost their loved ones, whether by illness or disappointments or depression or otherwise. The void left behind cannot be filled. But pessimism will only make things worse. Let's strive to hold on to positivity.

Many people and corporates alike have explored and realized the practicalities of novel methods of functioning and surviving. It's a boon in disguise. Let's be open and thankful for that.

Many have grown fonder and closer to some of their friends even through physical separation or trauma or other challenges. That's indeed a blessing. Let's appreciate and be thankful for that.

Finally, let's hope for healthier, happier, brighter and wiser years ahead. May there be peace all around.

Sunday, August 09, 2020

Measuring Success

Disclaimer: This post contains tongue-in-cheek, in-your-face humour. Meant as a situational satire. Not intended to offend anyone. If you don't like laughing at yourself, please don't read ahead.
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Use this funny behaviour of society as a measuring rod for success.

When you are successful, almost everyone else wants to announce a proud relationship with you. You may be surprised that several people, many of whom you don't even recognize, suddenly claim to know you very well. Some of them announce that they are your chuddi-buddies, regardless of the age difference between you. Some claim that you're "their boy/girl", in every possible connotations that it may be understood.

Many of your former neighbors start remembering you; some even recount funny anecdotes about you, which may have transpired only in the crooked confines of their scheming imagination. In reality, they may not even have interacted with you when you were neighbors. In fact, some of them might even have been instrumental in driving you out from the neighborhood. But when you're successful, they all claim to be your friends.

Even those who hardly knew your name or recognized your face until then suddenly recall that you hail from the same locality, street, area, city or state as they do. They claim to have seen you around, to have somehow helped you at some point in your life, even to have somehow inspired or otherwise prepared you for success.

All these "fake" people seem to believe that by making such tall claims they somehow become qualified enough to share credit for your success. Some of them even seem to believe that you're successful chiefly because you're from the same city or state as they are, or because they recognize you; if not, you'd probably never be as successful.

Keeping all your study, unpaid study loans, hard work, sweat, sleepless nights, expenditures, failed attempts and honest efforts aside, you can believe you've attained a measurable level of success only when these "fake" people start referring to you with phrases (in whatever dialect) such as "apna baccha hai", "humare gaon ki ladki", "nammoora huduga", "namma hudugi", "amgele gaonchi", "amgele makshi gharacho chello"... 

Until such time, keep going, you'll eventually get there.


Saturday, August 08, 2020

Why This Mad Rush

Was shocked by this incident:

The first incident was here in Mangalore old runway which was also table top runway. 

Landing commercial plane on such is challenging, specially during rains when the runway is wet and wind conditions are not favourable. But then if they don't land they cannot keep flying uncertainly. The only way would be to cancel all flights to such places during monsoons.


Everyone seems to be pushing their own agenda, but I strongly think people should use common sense instead of emotions to make their decisions. 

People say: we want to go back to India at any cost.

Politicians say: okay then come back at any cost and vote for us.

Flight operators say: we will bring you back at all costs.

But somewhere in between all this, common sense dies a miserable death. The cost of that has to be borne.


I'm not preaching some theoretical sermon that is impractical or impossible to follow... I've been sitting at home, mostly in one room in the house, since April 1 till today. I haven't met another living being other than my parents in these 4 months. So it is possible. I'm the last person who'd have thought of doing this. So if I can do it, then anyone can.

So I really cannot understand why are people so restless. Why do people find it so difficult to sit tight wherever they are for the time being until things clear up. What is this mad rush that makes them have to take some action right now?

Thursday, August 06, 2020

Movie/Serial Talent Bye Bye in 2020

Just the ones I recognise at least remotely.

01. Kushal Punjabi - suicide
02. Sejal Sharma - suicide
03. Abdullah Khan - lung infection
04. Ranjith Chowdhary - ulcer
05. Irrfan Khan - cancer
06. Rishi Kapoor - leukemia
07. Chiranjeevi Sarja - cardiac arrest
08. Wazid Khan (music composer) - corona
09. Sayeeda Begum - age
10. Mohit Baghel (comedian) - cancer
11. Preksha Mehta - suicide
12. Sachin Kumar - cardiac arrest
13. Yogesh Gaur (lyricist) - unknown
14. Jagesh Mukati - unknown
15. Chandana - suicide
16. Basu Chatterjee - age
17. Girish Karnad - multiple organ failure
18. Sushant Singh Rajput - suicide
19. Saroj Khan - cardiac arrest
20. Anil Suri (producer) - corona
21. Susheel Gowda - suicide
22. Jagdeep (comedian) - age
23. Ranjan Sehgal - multiple organ failure
24. Divvya Chouksey - cancer
25. Aashutosh Bhakre - suicide 
26. Sameer Sharma - suicide
27. S P Balasubramanyam - corona
28. Asif Basra - suicide
29. V J Chitra - suicide
30. Arya (Devdutta) Banerjee - suicide (?)