Jabardasth Movie Review

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Nandini Reddy is back after the successful Ala Modalaindi and does not let down the audience with her latest offering Jabardasth starring Siddharth and Samantha along with Nithya Menen in a special role. The movie is taken from Band Baaja Baaraat but incorporates enough comedy and local flavor to stand on its own.

Jabardasth Movie Review

Now for the story – Siddharth plays a con whose only ambition in life is to make a lot of money and for that he is always on the lookout for business opportunities never mind they always end up as a failure. He chances upon a meeting with Samantha who is also looking to start her own business as a wedding and event planner and together they form a partnership and business that does well as both complement each very well. Samantha ends up falling for Siddharth who does not reciprocate and that leads to a breakup of their business relationship. Both go their separate ways only to experience failure in business and you can only expect how things will end.

Pros -

  1. Beautiful Samantha (admittedly the only reason I went to watch the movie).
  2. Good comedy that will have you in splits (especially Siddharth’s version of English).
  3. Single track storyline that does not deviate much.
  4. Music by Thaman (good foot tapping numbers and most of the songs don’t feel out of place).

Cons -

  1. Not too many really.
  2. Additional comedy track that does not integrate fully with the story.
  3. Introduction of additional characters post-interval.

Performances – Good all round performances by everybody including the lead pair. Samantha is beautiful and does a good job. The surprise package is Siddharth who plays a role that contrary to his image of a romantic lover boy and plays it exceedingly well especially in terms of the comedy. Nithya Menen plays a special role that you need to watch out for…  revealing anything else will be a spoiler.

Verdict – Definitely recommended for a good time at the movies.

Mirchi Review – Old Wine In New Bottle Yet Again

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I bet you have seen Mirchi already… and yes you may argue you have not but you have seen it if you have seen any of the recent potboilers like Dammu, Shouryam, or any of the XXX number of faction based movies.

For anyone still interested in the story… well it’s the age old story of two villages at loggerheads and wanting to destroy each other’s existence.

For those who are interested in the long story…

Prabhas befriends Richa Gangopadhyay and her brother and enters their home in an effort to change the entire family and convince them to give up their violent ways. This he achieves during the first half of the movie and post interval we learn in flashback that Prabhas is actually an arch enemy of this family but has changed his ways after the death of his mother and after losing his entire family has chosen the path of peace and wants to end the violence between two families and two villages. Mission accomplished he returns to his village and his family.

Mirchi Review

Music is okay, dancing is worse and acting is well nonexistent which also means performances are pretty average barring Prabhas who does a decent job. The beautiful Anushka Shetty who makes a return to Telugu cinema after a 3 year hiatus has very little to do and only makes an appearance after the interval. Richa Gangopadhyay should consider returning to whatever she did before taking up acting. Sathyaraj and Nadhiya play Prabhas’s parents and have very little sense to do. Also, there is the truckload of bad guys whose only purpose is to get chopped, hacked and smashed by the superhero (in our movies the hero is always a superhero who does not need a mask).

All said and done, Mirchi is not a very bad outing and will serve as a time pass movie if you are looking to step out over the weekend and have to entertain the wife or girlfriend. Parents will definitely not be entertained by Mirchi so dispense with all plans of taking your family out to the movies. For Prabhas fans Mirchi will be highly rewarding considering the disastrously bad movie Rebel was.

Mixed Vegetable Dal Recipe!

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This mixed vegetable dal recipe is a very bland variation and is also filled with vegetables and it will prove a boon to many.  Mixed vegetable dal recipe will help if you are tired of cooking dal and vegetable dishes separately you can combine them both into this single delicious dish and be done with the cooking in a record time like 15 minutes. Mixed vegetable dal recipe will also help if you have fussy kids or an even fussier husband when it comes to eating (I have) then you can mix the greens and the vegetables into the dal and they will get eaten this way. Now onto the recipe.

Mixed Vegetable Dal Recipe Preparation-

Ingredients -

  • Toor dal/split pigeon pea ¾ cup
  • Green capsicum 1
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and cut into cubes
  • 1 potato, peeled and cut into cubes
  • 2 small tomatoes cut into four pieces each
  • 1 small onion roughly chopped
  • Tamarind, the size of one-half lemon, soaked in half cup water
  • Ginger garlic paste 1 tsp
  • Red chili powder ¼ tsp
  • Turmeric powder ¼ tsp
  • Salt to taste
  • Water 2 cups

For tempering:

  • Oil 1 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds ½ tsp
  • Garlic cloves, crushed 4-5
  • Dry red chilies 2
  • Curry leaves 1 sprig

Method:

Wash the toor dal in water. Remove the pulp from the soaked tamarind, strain and set aside.  Pressure cook the dal along with the vegetables, chopped onion, tamarind juice, ginger garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric powder, salt to taste, and water for about 10 minutes (or for the duration of two whistles).  When the pressure is released open the lid and stir taking care not to mash the vegetables.  Transfer the contents to a serving dish.  Heat the oil in a pan and add the mustard seeds.  When they begin to crackle add the dry red chilies, crushed garlic cloves, and curry leaves.  Sauté for a minute or two and add to the cooked dal.  Stir and check the seasoning.  Close the lid and let it stand for a few minutes before serving.

Note:  Increase the amount of red chili powder according to your taste.  Accordingly you can also increase or decrease the amount of tamarind juice too.

The Power Of Power Napping…

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It has been a while since I posted anything here (the cost of running a business) but at last I purposed that I would post something (hopefully useful to all) here and so here goes.

I have always been burdened (sort of like a Damocles sword hanging over my head) about improving myself and making myself the better (please note its not making myself the best over others or in any competitive way because I prefer anonymity and the numerous pleasures it accords me), but just the desire to be a better person, to produce more, to help others more… benefit myself and society at large in anyway that I can.

One hindrance to this was always the lack of time. I’m always running on time that never lasts. It seems I never have enough time to do all that I want to do in life and I’m always short or running out of time. This is really not true because everybody has 24 hours in a day and its up to them what they do with it, but lets just say I was not satisfied with what I could do in my given 24 hours and I wanted more hours in the range of 36-40 hours in my day. While I could not do that or manufacture a time machine, I did find out a way to increase the number of hours available to me (and consequently more time to accomplish what I want to do) by cutting down on my time of sleep.

Yes, I’ve found the eureka moment for myself wherein today I can sleep only 4-5 hours in a given day and that gives me a good 19-20 hours everyday to work on completing all that I desire to do, and mind you the 19-20 hours are full of energy and purpose driven too. The solution was simple, beginning to experiment with and learn how to powernap. Simply put nap (sleep) for short durations of intense sleep from 15-30 minutes at any given time. This powernap in fact gives me more rest and I wake up feeling more energized that with ordinary sleep. My 24 hour period runs something like this.  I sleep at 3 or 4 am and wake up at 8 am everyday and then in the afternoons I take a powernap of 15-30 minutes anytime between 2-4 pm. In effect any given day I sleep from anywhere like a maximum of 5.5 hours to a minimum of 4.15 hours.  The rest of the entire 24 hours are left to me to decide on how I want to spend them.

If you are wondering why would anyone want to do this… well think in terms of increased productivity. If you can accomplish x in 12-15 hours then it goes without saying you will accomplish x.x or x.xx in 19-20 hours. More time for work, more time for entertainment, more time to be spent with the family and… well more time for everything! This is only with one powernap of 15-30 minutes a day and normal sleep of 4-5 hours a day.  I’m planning to upscale this to 2 powernaps a day and reducing the normal hours of sleep and work on going all the way wherein I will only powernap and give up on normal sleep (unbelievable right?). This is still in experimental stages and I will share my findings on this blog from time to time.

If you are wondering any caveat, yes there is.  I’m not sure how those with regular employment like an office with regular timings will be able to accommodate a powernap in the middle of their schedule but other than that its possible to one and all provided they are willing to put in the effort.

Chicken Satay With Peanut Sauce Recipe!

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I promised the recipe for Chicken Satay With Peanut Sauce! and here it is.

Chicken Satay With Peanut Sauce Recipe!

Ingredients For The Chicken Satay:

  1. Boneless chicken breasts 400 gm
  2. Dried red chilies 4
  3. Garlic 6 cloves
  4. Coriander seeds 1 tsp
  5. Cumin seeds 1/4 tsp
  6. Salt to taste
  7. Coconut milk 3-4 tbsp
  8. Lemon juice 1 tbsp
  9. Soy sauce 2 tsp
  10. Bamboo skewers/wooden toothpicks, soaked in water as required
  11. Oil, to shallow fry

Ingredients For The Peanut Sauce:

  1. Roasted peanuts, coarsely powdered 1/4 cup
  2. Onion, 1 small chopped
  3. Garlic, crushed 4-6
  4. Coconut milk 1 cup
  5. Soy sauce 1 tsp
  6. Water ¼ cup
  7. Oil 1 tsp
  8. Salt to taste

Chicken Satay With Peanut Sauce Recipe!

Method:

Wash and pat dry the chicken breasts with a clean kitchen towel.  Soak the bamboo skewers/wooden toothpicks in water.  For the chicken satay, grind the dried red chilies, three garlic cloves, coriander seeds, and cumin seeds to a smooth paste adding a little water.  Crush the remaining garlic cloves.  Slice the chicken breasts horizontally and cut into smaller pieces depending on whether you are using bamboo skewers or wooden toothpicks.  In a bowl add the ground paste, crushed garlic, coconut milk, lemon juice, and salt to taste and mix thoroughly.  Add the soy sauce and chicken pieces and mix.  Marinate for a minimum of one-half hour preferably in the refrigerator.  String the chicken pieces onto the bamboo skewers/wooden toothpicks. Heat a non-stick grill pan, add little oil and place the satay sticks on it.  Cook on a medium flame for 2-3 minutes on both sides and then turn the flame to low and cook till done. Turn sides a few times so that the chicken gets cooked evenly on all sides.  While the chicken is cooking prepare the peanut sauce.  Heat oil in a pan and add the chopped onion, and sauté till translucent.  Add the coarsely ground peanuts and fry for a few seconds. Add about two to three tablespoons of water and cook for a few seconds. Add crushed garlic, coconut milk, and salt to taste and cook on a low flame for a few minutes.  Add the soy sauce and mix well. Add a quarter cup of water and cook till the mixture reaches the consistency of a sauce. Serve the chicken satay hot with the peanut sauce for accompaniment.

Milana Movie Review!

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Akash (Puneet Rajkumar) is depressed after a breakup with his girlfriend (Pooja Gandhi). Yes guys she walks away telling him “you’ll find someone better”… don’t all girls do this? Akash at the insistence of his parents agrees to marry a girl of their choice, Anjali (Parvati Menon), but the very first night of their marriage Anjali asks for a divorce. It turns out Anjali is forcibly married to Akash against her wishes (yup parental pressure again), but is in love with Hemant. Poor Akash, double whammy!!! 

Akash agrees to give Anjali a divorce and also help her find Hemant but when they do locate Hemant it turns out the guy is a cad and was only pretending to love Anjali for her wealth. This time around its Anjali who goes into depression (all jilted lovers do) and even tries to commit suicide but Akash saves her and convinces her she must live first and foremost for herself and accomplish the goals she set for herself i.e. complete her studies/M.S. in the USA and settle there.

Milana Movie Review

As Akash later puts it what happened to me before marriage happened to Anjali after marriage and a deep friendship forms between the two of them with Akash becoming Anjali’s benefactor. As time passes Anjali falls in love with Akash, but is unable to say anything for the fear of rejection, and the days for her move to the USA near.  Finally (and for a happy ending), Akash realizes his love for Anjali and stops her from flying off to the USA after the usual round of fisticuffs with the baddies (remember Hemant).

Puneet Rajkumar as Akash is excellent and pretty much does everything like acting, dance, action with aplomb, Parvati Menon as Anjali is pretty impressive too, and the beautiful Pooja Gandhi plays a cameo as Akash’s first love (Priya).  The music by Mano Murthy is excellent with some really catchy and melodious numbers.  I caught up on a Kannada movie after a really long time and must say it was good.

Google Translate On Google Chrome!

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Of late, I’ve been checking out content on some Chinese and Japanese sites.  I’m able to do it with ease because Google Chrome comes with Google Translate inbuilt and it will offer to translate pages into English for you.  It can also be configured to do this on the fly.

Google Translate Automatic On Google Chrome!

This is definitely a welcome addition to those who browse non-English websites and want pages/content translated to English or other languages.

ColourLovers Themeleon, Customize Your Twitter Theme!

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A simple, yet great way to customize your Twitter theme. You can choose backgrounds, colors, color codes and pretty much anything, and of course you can also upload a picture of yours like I have done below.

ColourLovers Themeleon, Customize Your Twitter Theme!

To start with go to Settings on Twitter, and select Design, and select Check out Themeleon, alternatively you can visit http://www.colourlovers.com/themeleon/twitter and login to Twitter and make the changes in the theme, colors, background, text, links, sidebar, sidebar border and other options.  You can preview the changes in COLOURlovers Themeleon and save the settings by clicking “save changes”. Please note this is instantaneous so be sure to preview before going for a save.  Of course the option to undo is also available. There are lots of other options to explore too and one can also register at http://www.colourlovers.com/ as a member.

You can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/moserw.

Why Is Lalit Modi Not Running India?

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Lalit Modi

With Shashi Tharoor’s exit it is apparent that Lalit Modi controls the IPL, TV (for IPL), Mobile (for IPL), Cricket Teams, Income Tax Department, Vijay Mallya, and even Twitter (it can be hacked and data wiped when he wants).

Now why is he not running the country?

Just think, if he can generate so much money and keep everyone happy with just the IPL then how much more would he achieve with the entire country.

I am not being sarcastic here. Just thinking if Indian cricket can make so much money then why not the rest of India and Indians?

Google Follow Finder! Let Google Find Your Twitter Friends!

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Google Follow Finder! Let Google Find Your Twitter Friends! 

Google Follow Finder works this way “Follow Finder analyzes public social graph information (following and follower lists) on Twitter to find people you might want to follow.” Simply put Google will analyze and suggest people for you to follow on Twitter and it does help if you have been using Twitter for a while.

To begin with visit http://www.followfinder.googlelabs.com/, and enter your Twitter username/handle and hit search. Google will then suggest people you should follow, of course based on your past Twitter usage. I must admit the first couple of pages thrown up by Google Follow Finder were pretty accurate and indicative of the kind of people I would want to follow. Give it a try, I’m sure you will find a few interesting people to follow like me for instance.  Even otherwise you can follow me at http://twitter.com/moserw.