Pushkar Pens

Nope, this does not do justice at all to what Raj Kumar Hirani is known for.  Munna Bhai movies, 3 Idiots, Ferrari ki Sawaari and PK have all put him on a pedestal where his name is enough to watch a movie. Alas! Things are slightly different this time. To be honest, it's not a bad movie. And in fact it is much better than some of the trash seen in recent past. It is more of a what could have have been!! Three friends with a London dream set on an illegal immigration journey and are assisted by SRK in the process. Towards the end of the movie, it's "India calling" for them again, and a 25 years older SRK is there again to help them come back. Throw in some doses of comedy, love, friendship and Desi emotions.... And that's Dunki for you. First things first, I have got sick of these big budget movies using Indian Army's name just for the sake of gaining some brownie points and then making a complete mockery of not trying to get even the basics right. We have see...

Yes it is delayed... The movie was released two months back; but I watched it on screen yesterday and could not help myself from writing this nonetheless. I went with zero expectations as I had not read or heard any reviews. Just thought of spending a chilled out Friday evening,, and ended up enjoying some quality stuff on the screen. We get to delve into an important question - Is it about the destination or the journey?   Here is a motorcycle adventure that proves that there is more to a trip than these,, as on the road so in life. When four ordinary women go on a motorcycle adventure to Khardung La, among the world's highest motorable passes, they also embark on a journey of self discovery and identity. For the uninitiated, Khardung La Pass is on the Ladakh Range, North of Leh, and connects the Indus River Valley and the Shyok River Valley. It also forms the gateway to the Nubra Valley, beyond which lies the Siachen Glacier. Made as a travelogue, the movie is a wonderful mix...

I had a hunch that it will not be a good movie. So I avoided it during its first week. Meanwhile we kept getting reviews that it has become a hit and has collected a few hundred crores during this week. Eventually I had to relent in front of my wife (Ranbir Kapoor fan !!) and ended up watching it on big screen. I wish I could have spent a better evening. These movies do not make their 100s of crores on the weight of cinematic excellence. They earn their money by creating a frenzy around the movie which our audiences fall for prior to the release. Add to that the cult status of a superstar and a sub standard product ends up being lauded over by a bunch of paid critics and media . And the latest trend is to add the glam quotient of more than one movie industries to generate added pre release glitter... So we see the Bollywood guys adding the star masaala of Tollywood, Kollywood, Sandalwood, Mollywood... and inciting new audiences. So we see Shahrukh Khan with Nayanthara in Jawaan , Rajin...

Watch this biopic for the sheer inspiration this man brings for every Indian. First things first, After frequently watching the trash that is dished out to audiences in the name of Indian Army in commercial blockbusters like Gadar-2 and Jawaan, it is really pleasing to see that the basics of our Army have been correctly depicted here. Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw.... Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw... A near-mythical colossus who lived after being shot nine times by a Japanese soldier in WWII... Sam, to his admirers... Sam, to his critics... Sam Bahadur, to his soldiers, with whom he lived, for whom he breathed.... They don't make Generals more colourful these days. He was an integral part of all the wars which the Indian Army fought during his military career.... WW-II, 1947-48, 1962, 1965, 1971... How many can boast of this CV, Rare Indeed... Add a ' Military Cross ' to it, and you get a rarer breed.... Go on to add a " Padma Vibhushan ' and...

I was not born when 375 miners had died in the flooding of an IISCO coal mine in Chasnala (Dhanbad) in December 1975 . It has been the deadliest mining accident in India. And being born in Bokaro, just 40 km away from Dhanbad, our childhood was too often privy to discussions around the disaster. The tragedy was immortalised by the Amitabh Bachchan starrer ' Kaala Paththar ' in 1979. With big names like Shatrughan Sinha, Shashi Kapoor, Neetu Singh, Yash Chopra and Salim-Javed to boast of in its team, it has become a classic over the years.  The basic causes of accidents and injuries in underground mines are unsafe conditions, unsafe acts or both. A little bit of Google search shows that mining disasters occur as a result of large mine fires, powerful mine explosions, violent rock gas outbursts and water inundations. All operating mines have to contend with the real danger of being overtaken by one or more disasters at some point of time during their lifespan.  Though fatality ...

It's 20 years overdue.  Yeah, 20 years. 23 March 2003 I was a young Captain in the Indian Army, posted in Rajasthan. Just a couple of months back, we had returned back after a prolonged 1 year+ deployment on the borders in Operation Parakram. It was a very difficult one year, perched in whatever could be called a living space amid harsh conditions, between the Border fence and Anupgarh Branch of the Indira Gandhi Canal.... and any avenue of enjoyment and recreation was welcome. World Cup Cricket in South Africa had come at the right time to provide that succour. We had a good, young and energetic cricket team, led by a Maverick Ganguly. Sachin was in top form. Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra were doing really well. Rahul Dravid provided good balance as a Wicket Keeper. We won against everyone in the league stage except Australia.  And then we met them again in the Finals But India were playing up against the best Australian team ever , which had the likes of Ricky Ponting, Matthe...

02 April 2011 India had won the WC defeating Sri Lanka at the Wankhede. Virat Kohli was 23 years old. Just three years playing ODIs. Not yet made his Test debut. It seems metaphorical that Kohli hoisted Tendulkar on his shoulders for the lap of honour at the Wankhede after India's World Cup win.  Kohli would then say on camera, poetically, about Sachin : “He has carried the burden of the nation for 21 years, it was time we carried him."  05 Nov 2023 12 yrs down the line, at the iconic Eden Gardens, as he turned 35 today, he has equalled his idol in ODIs Centuries, and given us so many beautiful memories in the process. Cheers for him.