Image Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/16320-10.html
If love came in different shades, Finding Fanny would be an ode to the pastel kind.
The movie is crafted for easy consumption, to be waded through like skiing on butter, peppered occasionally with feelings of betrayal, and anger that take you by surprise simply because they pierce the easy-going atmosphere — like sudden smears of purple or red.
Photo Credit: Kalyan Varma
“Have you ever lost someone you love and wanted one more conversation, one more chance to make up for the time when you thought they would be here forever? If so, then you know you can go your whole life collecting days, and none will outweigh the one you wish you had back.”
― Mitch Albom, For One More Day
THE DRESS
In the interview for the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly the costume designer Meredith Markworth-Pollack shares the story behind Mary’s bridal gown. Monique Lhuillier offered 10 dresses for consideration and the absolute winner was this breathtaking Monique Lhuillier Catherine Gown from the brand’s Spring 2012 Platinum Collection.
The bride also wears Paris by Debra Moreland custom crown and veil, Untamed Petals sash, Ben-Amun earrings, Gillian Steinhardt signet ring and Manolo Blahnik shoes.
Exactly a week ago, I got the surprise of my life. Let’s just say there were some wonderful people, biriyani and a ring involved 😉
At midnight, as my 24th birthday rolled in, I found myself sitting in the bleak office of Seabird Travels with G waiting for the bus to Goa to arrive. I spent part of my birthday on the beach, book in one hand, beer in the other and sand under my feet. The sea, as always, felt familiar — like a warm hug.
I missed you, Papa. The waves reminded me of how happy Goa used to make you. But as I make new memories, your silly grin will stay with me.
(Photo credit: http://shutterbooth.com)
When I was in my early teens, I remember having a conversation with a friend who was a good 8-10 years older than me. S/he said “Don’t lose this feeling you have towards romance”. At that time I found it odd because for as long can remember, I have always been in love with the concept of, well, love!
After I turned 13, I would devour Mills & Boon books religiously. The librarian at the neighborhood library would pull out a fresh stack of M&B’s for me at the beginning of every month. DDLJ is my favorite movie, one of my favorite songs is “Everything I Do (I Do It For You)” by Bryan Adams and I tear up at weddings when people say their vows.
Also I grew up on a steady diet of love stories. My parents? They met when they were 17 and dated seven years before they got married. My maternal grandparents? My grandfather suffered a stroke a year few years before I was born so I hardly ever heard him speak, but the only name he could say till the day he died was my grandmother’s – and he would often tell me: “she is the most beautiful woman”. My paternal grandparents? My Maharashtrian grandfather went abroad as a young man, met my German grandmother in London and together, they raised a family that balances both worlds.
(They’re all hard acts to follow, trust me)
Now coming back to that conversation: I often think about it because that’s the day it struck me that there could be a time when I could “grow out” of this fascination. But it hasn’t happened yet. So when people sneer at the concept of Valentine’s Day, I do get bit annoyed. Yes, I know it is a ‘Hallmark’ driven carnival of excess and yes, restaurants tend to go overboard with over-priced meals but still – the day is about celebrating love. So if someone tells you that they’re going to something special on ‘veeday’ then try not say something snarky. Even if someone chooses that one day to do something that you think is cheesy, then let them Heck, the first time I ‘celebrated’ Valentine’s Day I baked chocolate chip cookies for my significant other and he was nice enough to tell me just how umm edible they we only a few years later.
So if anyone reading this is going to tell someone that they love him or her on February 14th, go on! Do it! And tell me all about it – I do love love stories 😉
I’ve never had the courage to write about Rahul Dravid. Like actually sit down and write a piece he deserves, like I’d want to. Maybe someday I will, but till then I am more than happy to read some wonderful pieces of writing on him that pop up now and then. Since I find myself going back to some of them quite often, I thought I’d make a list of some of the (in my opinion) really brilliant ones. I’m going to keep updating this list as and when I find other articles on him. I’m pretty sure there are some other great ones out there that I might have missed, so if any of you have any recommendations then do let me know so I can add them!
(in no particular order)
I have forgotten what it feels like to finish a book.
The physical turning of a page, or the filling up of that electronic status bar. It’s all the same to me, really. At this point I just want to pick up something and read it from start to finish and I just can’t seem to do that any more.
I’ve never had to beg anybody to lay my hands on something interesting to read, I’ve been lucky that way. I remember how I felt while reading (and watching) Roald Dahl’s ‘Matilda’ – her dad ripping that book to shreds, I could feel my own eyes tearing up. Anyway, the point is there has ALWAYS been something to read , and it’s very rare for me to leave the house without a book in my bag.
But that’s the problem. I’ve become so superficial, floating from one book to another. Disrespectful, I want to cringe with embarrassment, but it’s the truth. At the back of my mind, I know there’s no time limit, no ‘form of the book’ limitation either. Earlier, I would carry only one book with me pretty much everywhere I went. This meant I had no choice but to read that one, single book when I had the chance. If it was a library book (oh, those Mills & Boons!) I would try to not take them out of the house for fearing of losing them. So I’d end up rushing home after school or college, waiting for the moment when I could delve back into it. Now, I rarely go to libraries anymore because I hardly read physical books.
Ebooks are wonderful. But ebooks have spoilt me. I carry them on every device I have with me – my Mac, my phone, my iPod. I have multiple forms and copies of the “current book I’m reading” – and at least 15 other ones. Hypothetically, I should be reading more books right? Wrong. I think I’m over-prepared. I’ve lost that NEED to finish a book, because I know it’s always with me.
Anyway, I just wanted to get this out of my system. It isn’t a debate on whether ebooks are good or bad. It’s just something I noticed, and something I really need to do something about. So I am going to try and write reviews of whatever I read, hopefully that will push me to actually go through with completely reading a book. Any other suggestions?
You know what joy is?
Joy is reading an article in the paper about BMTC launching a new ‘feeder’ bus service called Big Connect. Joy is spotting half of your daily route to work covered in that list of new routes. Joy is finding out that there are not one, or two, but SIX new buses on this route. Joy is actually catching that bus and reaching home a whole 45 mins earlier.
BMTC, today you have made me an extremely happy commuter. Not only me, but I saw several tired, weary people who boarded this bus burst into wide grins as we realised that getting home was going to be a lot more easier, a lot more faster and a LOT less tiring. Our bus literally trumpeted down the street, inviting people to get on board which they did very, very gladly. So many voiced their relief on learning about this new route and about its frequency (touch wood that it sticks to it).
To read more about the new Big Connect bus service in Bangalore please go here. And please, please spread the word and make it a success so that it continues!
On Friday March 25th, I graduated from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore. Well technically, I still have to give my VI Semester exams in April but let’s just leave that aside for the moment!
Two days ago, I turned on my Kindle 2 (recently handed down to me after the ‘rents acquired a Kindle 3 – with a gorgeous new burgundy cover that I’m so in love with) to try to get through some boring, blah reading material for college. Instead, I see that at some point during the day, my father had put Wil Wheaton’s ‘Just A Geek’ on it, which he had finished reading in one shot the night before.
Now, I’ve been a big fan of Wil Wheaton – not for the fact that he played Wesley Crusher, or for his blog – but for his adorable pet ‘tweets’ that he put up now and then. As a fellow pet owner, who also has dogs and a cat, I find myself relating to these quite a lot and I always find myself laughing out loud, thinking ‘I KNOW, RIGHT?’ every time he tweets about these pet ‘incidents’. So I thought, ok lets give this book a shot.
@geetanjalic 