Chalis Chaurasi 4084

That's the name of Naseerudin Shah's latest film. Just saw the film yesterday in a half empty, single screen hall with a drowsy audiences. Well, that still won't deter me from saying that I loved the movie. 'A good cinema' is how I rate it. I don't know the box office figures but it hit off well with me. Actually Naseer and the rest three guys in the film did. I love them all. Atul Kulkarni, Ravi Kishan and KK Menon are good actors and Naseerudin Shah is becoming dirtier, naughtier and bindaas with old age. Where did I read that he was to retire. I will say, "Oh, Please don't go!"

The movie has quite a dirty quotient of bad bad world. No, No....there ARE women in the movie but no heroine and frankly one does not miss having one on the screen. Some new bee gyrates to add the masala factor in the movie but cut it...thats an occasional dose. The men keep you busy with their anecdotes and interesting life histories. The story is racy and keeps you smiling till the end.

I actually loved Kulkarni crooning famous "Hawa, Hawa, aye Hawa, khushbu luta de".. Lemme warn you there is no good over evil ending. Its fun film with good humour. Enjoy!! Shall I say," Just chill!"

I ran and danced with Mumbai

I have been there on ground for four Mumbai Marathons. Ran once...ishhh...a Dream Run :) This time I was very late, thanks to my daughters. I had to drag them out to get the feel of it. So, when we reached the half Marathoners were already coming back to the finish line. It was great to see Mumbaikars sweating it out for fun. The women were beetroot red and looked so lively.

Just then the oldies, senior veterans, came running in their colorful teeshirts. Their josh wasn't any lesser. They waved to the crowds and ran like happy kids. We decided to move towards the music...Jazz by the way. That's where we had a real blast. A senior lady enthralled with her dancing moves and a funny guy sought attention with his signature 'snake dance and ghostly' dance. Right next to it was the Star Plus's Lavani....oops looked like Bar dancers. Isshhhhh...who says bar dancers can't do Lavani and vice versa :)...Of course it was Star..........and Plus.

Celebs Tara Sharma and Rahul Bose came running in Dream run. By now we decided to move to Marine drive to capture better pictures. The BMW lead the Dream-runners and one swanky BMW sat on the Marine Drive found a lover in my kids who went on to admire the beauty and posed with it. We danced some more and cheered the runners. There were many running without a bib number so when I could not control, we finally decided to run (without the bibs) and we did, all the way to the finish line.

My daughters said,"Next year we are running for sure!"

We will!

Mumbai Marathon!!! Got to run....

MUMBAI on the run for fun and for fitness. What a delightful dawn that will be. Tomorrow, that is. I will there to capture some moments. I love everyone who can wake up to welcome the morning sun and can take a stride to a healthy living. Wow!

I wish I could run a half marathon some day. Ran dream run year before last. Not very challenging and serious run yet it fills you with pride, especially if you ran after ages (and after aging).

Tremendous adrenalin rush! Oh, just watching the runners is what all I have to do this year. But I enjoy cheering them. Its smiles all the way. Hey lemme catch some sleep for I have to catch the event tomorrow.

Good night!!! Sleep tight, wake up bright, in the morning light!

"Hush"..that was when I lost my voice.

I am a chatterbox, I always had been. So it was very natural for my throat infections leading to Laryngitis in my childhood. The doctors always prescribed "VOICE REST" written exactly the way it is written here, bold and underlined. I still would n't learn to keep shut until one fine day I actually lost my voice and found it so funny to express myself in sign language. That was the prank God played upon me. Years later a reputed ENT specialist confirmed that I did suffer a partial paralysis of my vocal chords. As a result my vocal chords got distorted a bit, permanently. He explained to me why there was a husky feel to my voice and nothing could change it except a surgery with just 20% chances of recovering from the 'husk' and 80% chances of losing my voice permanently. Which was not a feasible situation. So he recommended that I learn YOGA and breathing techniques which I followed religiously for over two years in an yogashram because I was so conscious of my voice.

Although most people, women especially, still remark, "Oh you have a bad throat, is it?", the men actually compliment me about my voice and tell me that women, probably are jealous! :) My guy friends (dare I say Boyfriends? :)), even the one I eventually married, actually finds my voice so good that he wishes me to go on and on when we talk...oops its only I talk and he listens...rather loves to listen.

Another friend just made my day when he reaffirmed that my voice fills him with enthusiasm. Friends, thank you for all that......

Hey Guys, think its time to do some Podcasts!

'Do you have it in you?' Don't join the Indian army!

Hey guys, have you read the title clearly? 'Do you have it in you'....is what Army advertisement challenges you, dares you, asks you and pulls you towards, what is made to look very very attractive, a career in the defence forces. I tell you if you have it in you don't join the forces. The glossy painted picture of men in OGs and lush green golf courses seen on the billboards is purely for graphic representation, so are the other details like perks and free house. What an army ad never displays is a "Conditions Apply".

I have strong reasons for saying so. I am taking the case of this serving officer having given 20 years of his life to this organisation. A confirmed bachelor who does not intend marrying is being refused an army accommodation for his old parents. So, here is a condition that only married officers get accommodation. Quite a paradox because whether one has a wife or not, everyone has parents, right? To marry or not to marry is a personal choice. If the old parents are entitled to medical and CSD facilities, how can an accommodation be denied them? Every officer is entitled to a perk called accommodation. So why not a bachelor? More certainly, if it has to accomodate his old parents. For a bachelor old parents are his only family.

The army HQ says that this the first case of its kind and if they approve it,  it will be setting a precedent. So, they conveniently disapprove this officers plea to his right to have an accommodation for his parents. Wtf ! Do they mean to say that last 64 years we have never had a bachelor officer wanting accommodation for his parents? Not even one instance? Complete bullshit!

I will write more about the WHO"S WHO of army who are retaining the houses in the metros on pretexts for which many precedents would have been set. Fauj is in its own words "Fucked up". Its not for nothing that Army Chief ' s DOB details are messed with. The General has gone to the court. The officer who is written about here has taken the matter to court. Fauj, as they say, has really gone to the dogs.

Share this, talk about it in media.  You may do good to many soldiers who commit their lives to the nation unconditionally but offered perks on conditions.

Sign this petition please!

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Friends, 

I just created a petition entitled Indian Government: Rapists of Minors should be hanged., because I care deeply about this very important issue. 

I'm trying to collect 100 signatures, and I could really use your help. 

To read more about what I'm trying to do and to sign my petition, click here:
http://www.change.org/petitions/indian-government-rapists-of-minors-should-be-hanged?share_id=CFMeRlxJrR& 

It'll just take a minute! 

Once you're done, please ask your friends to sign the petition as well. Grassroots movements succeed because people like you are willing to spread the word! 

MRIDUAL
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Getting the BEST out of it!!

To all you Krantikaari Friends, 

If you are going to the MMRDA grounds to support the JAN LOK PAL BILL and Annaji please know that the BEST buses are plying every 15 minutes from both Bandra and Kurla station. Participants are advised to take these buses to reach the MMRDA ground. It is a very convenient way to reach the venue.

Please share this with as many people as possible.