100 Scraps

100 scraps in an year, you antisocial or what? When someone asked me the other day, I had to think. Is 100 scraps not a lot?
But then I just did a quick survey of people I know or randomly searching a few. The friends count and the scraps/messages count were insanely high. 2000+ scraps 200+ friends, 350+ friends 3578 scraps.
The figures really scared me and i felt a guilt that am I really antisocial or people just don't like being friends with me?
If I will sum up all my school and college friends and office colleagues, I guess I can't still beat that insane friend count of 300 or 500. And most important most of them won't even be online.
But the social networking craze has really caught up. From orkutting to twittering to facebook.
When earlier this month facebook tried to change its privacy policy, there was a big uproar in the facebook community and lastly facebook had to retreat and now it is inviting users views to frame policies.
In around 3-5 years the social networking has become an integral part of people's life. Whereas earlier people used to send cards, letters, do phone calls now its about sending scraps, writing on the walls, twittering, sending messages.
Even sending an email or texting now seems to be old fashioned. These sites are probably being used as instant messaging too.

R@hul82: We are going for a movie, do you want to join?
SudsIamSmart: Which one?
R@hul82: Haven't decided yet, will see, its a multiplex dude. something would be there.
SudsIamSmart: I am not in for Benjamin button, i am telling u right now. anything else would do.
R@hul:82 told ya na we can decide there, u just drop by.
VickyTheMaster: Guys you coming or not?
R@hul82: I am outta here!
SudsIamSmart: Will meet you at Inox.

Feels like I am way out of the league. I still use the phone or emails. 100 now seems a big number to me? Who all did send so many messages to me?

Kodak Theatre - Platform for Movements?

The other day I was watching the 81st Oscars from the Kodak Theatre and it was Sean Penn who was adjudged the Best Actor in leading Role. Though I would have loved to see Brad Pitt getting that or even Mickey Rourke for that matter, neverthless it wasn't bad with Sean Penn either as he is an excellent actor and I am sure would be terrific in the role of Harvey Milk.
His acceptance speech was good, where he asked for equal rights for gays, lesbians and every human being across the world.
There was something at that moment during his speech, the faces of thousands of people sitting there were deep in thought and probably everyone was pondering about equal rights for gays and lesbians in U.S., which has become a big thing now.
But the way Penn said it, standing at that podium, it felt like the start of a fresh movement to bolster the fight to get equal rights, the kickoff of a great struggle to get equal rights for gays and lesbians in united states (it did felt somewhat like the movie).
Kodak theatre seems to be a place from where any big movement can start, be it a demand for equal rights, working to abolish poverty, fight against AIDS or any other big issue.
If there is a call from that podium it definitely gains momentum and certainly sweeps across the whole world. Along with the magic of that podium it is the magic of people sitting there who have the power to bring alive a movement in the united states or the whole world and can achieve anything with their star status, fan following and their dedicated work.
The place has seen all the glamour in the world all the high profile people, from the wannabe President (remember Obama Vs. Clinton primary debate) to the Superstar it has seen all.
Hopefully the place will continue to be a witness of various historic events and the beginning of the movements which will change the world for better.

Jai Ho

You love Slumdog or hate it. You like one of the soundtrack or all. You like Rahman's music or not. The only thing that matter and true is Rahman has done music and India proud with 2 Oscars.

And no one would argue that he has worked way too hard for it over the years and the man does has something different then all other music composers.

Rahman we are all proud of you and you have proved yet again that hard work and dedication always pay off.

Love the line he said in his acceptance speech "I had a choice between hate and love, I chose love and today I am here".

Bravo Rahman!!!!

Jai Ho!!

Rachel Getting Married

Anne Hathaway gives a good performance, certainly worthy of an Oscar Nomination (though Kate Winslet should get it for The Reader) in Rachel Getting Married.
In short the story revolves round Kym (Anne) who is back from Rehab for her sister's wedding (Rosemarie DeWitt). Her anxieties and what she goes through, her narcissist behavior and the marriage. The complete review can be found here.
The movie is wonderful and the whole family and marriage atmosphere is brought up in a very nice manner. The whole case is outstanding with Rosemarie DeWitt outperforming everyone in the role of Rachel.
The family feuds, misunderstandings, the guilt and the sibling love all are in good proportion. And the backdrop of the marriage is handled in an excellent manner and you would actually feel like attending a marriage.
This movie would remind you of Monsoon Wedding.
Bill Irwin is too good in his role of Paul (Kym's father).
Though the movie could have been edited a bit more as sometimes the sequences just don't seem to end (like the rehearsal dinner).
Nevertheless its true that you are so much soaked into the marriage atmosphere created in the movie that it might bring in memories of your marriage or some marriage you attended and the sequences might not seem that long.
All in all a very good movie and Anne Hathaway looks good in a non glamorous role.

Slumdog Millionaire VS. Delhi-6

VS

I have strong opinion about slumdog millionaire and its success in the west and mostly with the story of Q&A on which it is based. But may be some other time I will express those views.
Off late I have been focused on an upcoming movie Delhi-6.
The visuals of the movie attracted me towards it and then there is music by none other than A.R. Rahman who is nominated for Academy Award for Slumdog Millionaire.
The soundtracks of Delhi-6 are for the most part better than SM.
Rehman outperforms himself every now and then. And though SM music became a hit at the Oscars I am sure Delhi-6 will be a much much bigger hit back home.
If you have any doubts then go ahead and listen to the tracks here.
And being directed by Rakesh OmPrakash Mehra this is expected to be a good movie (Remember Rang de Basanti).
The good thing about the promotion of this movie that I liked is that the promotion is being done in many forms. Facebook community page is one such way of promoting. You can join it here.
Indian cinema has really come off age and the ways of promoting, shooting and story line everything is world class now.
When Abhishek Bachhan and Sonam Kapoor and Director Rakesh OmPrakash Mehra start interacting with the target audience before the release through web then for sure we are heading in the right direction and going global.
A dedicated site for the movie is another way in which director and producer are trying to reach to the audience. Similar communities are present on other social networking sites.
The point which I am trying to make here is that Indian film industry is now in no way putting any barriers on creativity, shooting locations, use of technology or story line.
The stage where today the industry stands is the best ever where anyone and everyone can try out their creativity.
And so the world recognition should come to Indian directors and story tellers too.
The argument that SM depicts the problem of Indian society could well be true but then Delhi -6 also depicts another problem of today's Indian Society (NRI Children and their dilemma when going back to their roots).
I hope that some day people will start judging the movie by its content and not by the director or where it originiated from.
Danny Boyle should be lauded for his efforts in Slumdog but then Rakesh OmPrakash Mehra should also get his fair chance with a masterpiece like Rang de Basanti.

Chelsea Market

New York boasts of thousands of restaurants and the food buffs can find good restaurants at every nook and corner. Still you keep on yearning for more every time you are out. The food quest took me to this indoor market in the heart of Manhattan called 'Chelsea Market'.
Situated at 9th Avenue between 15th and 16th streets, this is a nice place to have some good food. Bakery, restaurant, wine, fruit market you have a lot of things here.
Every time I step inside, I enjoy it.
It's situated in an old building which was used as a biscuit factory earlier. More information about its history can be found here.
So if you are in Manhattan and are hungry, give this place a visit.
A few images from the Chelsea Market