The Mafia Kalyanam

It was one of the best weekends I've had in the longest time. Aftermonths of living life through phone calls and internet chats, we all met each other. And for what better reason than a wedding. Our friend's wedding which turned out to be a lovely ceremony. The bride, like she should be, was the most beautiful person that day. Every time she smiled, she looked ten times more gorgeous. It made my heart swell up to five times it's original size when I saw her and her sweet groom stand side by side and look utterly wonderful together. A low-key ceremony made rich and happy by her loving family who welcomed all of us with open arms and hearts. We were never made to feel out of place at any time during the events. These are the original good people.
For me, any occasion can be marked as a complete pass or fail by the food it has. And boy! oh boy! did the food deliver. It was simple - the standard fare of idli, dosa and filter coffee for breakfast and lunch being a vegetarian sadhya. Let me tell you, I am a happy non-vegetarian. I love my meat and would preferably like it with every meal. But, I set all of that aside for this amazing meal which, to further send me into heaven, was served the traditional way - on a banana leaf. Joy! Food simply tastesbetter when eaten from a leaf.

To top it all off this weekend had the one thing that made it more memorable than others. My friends. It's the best feeling ever. To be able to hug your dearest friends and talk to them face to face. Games and dressing up and taking a million photos and realizing that even after 'growing up' a little we can still be, for lack of a better word, zany with each other. That's what makes friends more special than other people.

I love you all and it pained me to see us all go our separate ways. Let's meet up again. Weddings are too much fun!

Top 5 Reasons

To step out today:

1) Because you should only watch so many episodes of Boston Legal/Gilmore Girls/Scrubs/Modern Family back to back
2) Because the weather outside is so beautiful.
3) Because sitting at home and eating non stop never made anyone thin.
4) Because there is a sale!
5) Because it will make you bold and appreciate what's out there. It will only come with practice.

So go on, get out more!

Strange this is

A strange thing happened today. I was on the phone with my sister and we spoke for about 3 minutes. And then, without warning, I missed her. She talked about how much she wanted to be here in Muscat for mom's birthday and I actually felt sad that she wasn't here. And this time, it wasn't because it was a last resort to get some peace of mind, I actually missed her when she said that.

What a new development I say.

Kerala Cafe

Now, malayalam cinema has been going through possibly it's worst phase with the movies that it has been churning out lately. But tonight I saw a movie that really changed my perception of the type of people that exist in this industry.

The film is called 'Kerala Cafe' and it has a format that has been used many, many times in other movies, but is a novelty in Kerala. It tells us ten stories in ten places showing ten ways of life made by, as you might have guessed, ten directors. What really caught my attention when the movie started was a short message by my all time favourite director, Sathyan Anthikkad. He talks about how a viewer might not initially understand this movie, but goes on to tell us to give it a chance.

I did.

As I watched each story I can safely say it is an honest effort by all those film makers to make a movie that is compelling in both story and technique. Mind you, I'm not saying that this is the all time greatest movie ever made in Mallu land, but it is one that deserves some recognition.
Stories are tied together by one place, a major character in the film. A place where it is completely believable that people of all types and backgrounds meet - a coffee shop at a railway station. It is here that we meet and say goodbye to the different characters whose stories we become a part of.
Stories about misfortune and luck. Stories about finding solace with strangers over the passing of loved ones. Stories about fear, both of the supernatural and of the demons inside of us. Stories that made me laugh and think about stuff and one that made me cry inside.

The transition from story to story is quite interesting and I give the directors extra points for even wanting to collaborate to make a movie like this.

All in all a good show!

Gah!

It's that time of the year again, when the same feeling creeps upon me..

THERE IS SO MUCH FRIGGIN' TO DO AND SO LITTLE TIME!!!!!

so gah! :|

Handicap

I haven't used my mouse for any sort of photoshop work in ages. And it such a difficult experience for me right now. My Wacom tablet has spoiled me. SIGH!

***

March 17th 2010, around 5 pm.
The time when I effectively lost my mind. I have decided to start afresh in a whole new direction. I just hope it turns out to be as awesome as I am hoping.

Thank you
Maya
Sruti
Sherry
Sunai

Rat's Top 5

Actors
whom I love. Whose performances I have and will always cherish.

Robert Downy Jr. - With a dialogue delivery that looks like he makes it up on the spot (all the effing time!) I will sit through any movie if it has him in it. Simply to watch an amazing performer blow me away every time I do so. Most memorable movie - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Watey film!

Johnny Depp - An actor whose skill and interest seems to lie in the likes of characters that are zany, evil, rum soaked, secretive, passionate, loony or sporting sharp appendages, but each of them with enough heart that justifies them for being who they are and making them endearing characters we will never forget.

Morgan Freeman- with a voice like that it's hard not to be in awe of this amazing personality. The man who played GOD! I came to know about him through my dad and his admiration of this actor's amazing skill grew on me and I have been a fan of Red ever since.

Jim Carey- loud and sometimes green with an obnoxious need to behave in ways that normal people will never understand, this man is, well, I don't know how best to describe him. I love being insane. Even in photographs, as long as you look happy it's ok to be insane and make faces and talk funny and make people laugh around you. And iI can safely blame it all on this amazing actor. The one who made it ok to be crazy.

And finally, yes I have made up my mind on this after thinking about it for a while, my favourite actor of all time

Robin Williams- When I was a kid, my parents got me the VCD of Jumanji and with nothing better to do, I sat and watched the movie every time I got the chance. And as a kid his performance got me hooked. Later on while watching other films that had him in it, I realized that each and every one of the characters he portrayed I loved. From Alan Parrish to Genie, he is an amazing actor and, let's not forget, a superb comedian. He made me laugh and cry and fall in love. Robin Williams you are amazing!

Jack
Jumanji
Flubber
Dead Poets Society
Good Will Hunting
Bicentennial Man
Aladdin
Mrs. Doubtfire
from making us laugh in Whose Line to dancing and telling us Don't Worry...be happy!