Book ReviewReviews

Book Review: Urban Shots – The Love Collection

by Tina Basu
written by Tina Basu

Love the most subtle yet the most powerful emotion is a celebration in itself. It’s rare if anyone has never been touched by love – love of parents, sisters, lovers or even the little pet! Love stories, likewise, are enthralling. A happy love story can leave you content where as a sad end might keep you thinking for long.
Pride & Prejudice has been my favourite romance classic till date – always seems to leave you on a high. And when you steer your eyes from the Mills & Boons and Erich Segal you chance upon ‘Urban Shots – The Love Collection’ – a new and refreshing book by a host of Indian budding authors.

Unlike other novels these short stories are real, urban and closer to earth – stories that you can imagine happening next door or even can relate with yourself. Edited by the talented Sneh Thakur, this book is a collection of 31 love stories by 27 authors. From juvenile sweet love to matured bolder love this book contains a myriad moments where you can feel and absorb love. Unlike the regular ‘happily ever after’ you can read some off-beat stories for a change and enjoy the shades of grey and that’s what makes this different from the crowd.
Some of the stories which I quite liked were these out of the box ones where you can’t predict from the first few lines. ‘Making Out’ by Hina Siddiqui (also the editor’s pick) is as straight and blunt as the title explains but also unfolds some hidden truth and the grey shades of society. My favourite has been ‘Twisted’ by Lipi Mehta, you will find it simple until you read the last words, and yes that’s a great twist to make a different love story all together. ‘Beyond Reasonable Doubt’is very rustic and you can identify with the characters and their emotions very easily. Stories like ‘Pause, Play, Rewind’ by Shoma Narayan and the deep conflicting ‘Shahana and Shamim’ by Sangeeta Bandopadhyay feels like a mini screenplay which you can imagine unfolding right in front of you. ‘Strangers’ by Ahmed Faiyaz has been gripping and spooky and I applaud him for that. ‘Reality Bytes’ by Anitha Murthy definitely is touching and heart breaking and one story which you will love to read. It’s a must read in this book. Other stories worth commenting are ‘High Time’ by Kailash Srinivasan, ‘The Jhalmuri Seller’ by Bhabani Shankar Kar. ‘A Girl can Dream’ by Ayeesha Khanna is simple yet beautiful.
There are some stories too which didn’t go that well with me for may be the percentile factor! ‘The Girlfriend’, ‘The Girl who was too Loud’, ‘Written in the stars’, were nice but predictable for me.  
It was a satisfying read for me, in fact I am happy that I finished it off within a week even after a mad schedule at work. Some of the stories were captivating and I read them almost like how I read a thriller. After a long time I got to read the mixed emotions of love, penchant, desire, guilt, anger, blues and so many more. To read minds of young and budding authors is always pleasant. And it feels closer to you when you can start relating stories with yourself and the others whom you know who might have gone through similar situations.
My thoughts – Everyone needs romance, feel some love – all kinds of it.
I thank Blogadda for the opportunity to review this book.
My rating – 3.5/ 5
Book – Urban Shots – The Love Collection
Edited by – Sneh Thakur
Publisher – Grey Oak in association with Westland
ISBN – 978-93-81626-47-4
Price – INR 199
Pages – 226
Gengre – Romance, Fiction

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books!


        
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I am Back!

by Tina Basu
written by Tina Basu

I have been playing this vanishing act for a long time now I guess. But now it’s decided enough is enough, no more disappearing from this space. I have been stretching myself through long hours at work, freelance stuffs, house hunting, and so many things… but that’s not reason enough that I start neglecting my blog. So I am back to doing what I like the most – Writing.

Over these past months – that I have not been blogging – there have been so many things happening around and there are so many things I want to write upon. Let’s see when I manage to get some time out for that.
Coming back to what’s happening now – I am going crazy in this Bangalore heat. It seems even the pleasant weather of the city has taken to a vanishing act like me. But please it’s getting too hot out here. It’s only early March and it is like this, what are we going to do through April & May?
I had gone out after lunch to pick up certain stuffs and it’s like insane outside. This is not the kind of Bangalore I like. Hope Mr. God listens to me and send a little bit of rain. I am already dehydrated and have embarrassed myself in front of people when I couldn’t help but puke – thank god I didn’t get a sun stroke/heat stroke last Sunday.
But one good thing about it is the swimming pool in our apartment looks inhabited these days. I am sure I am also going to take the plunge more often these days. My physio had told swimming is probably the best way to relax and work out – so looking forward to it this evening.
Some tips that you can follow like what I am doing to beat the heat – Healthy options
     1.       Keeping myself hydrated with water & lime juice – I also took some ORS because of my now famous puking incident
      2.       Having loads of plain yogurt – It will help is digestion and will also cool your system
      3.       Having food with less oil & spice
      4.       I don’t like carrying this umbrella but I just can’t help now.
Well, I don’t want this post to sound like the do’s & don’ts of Summer, I guess every one by now knows about light clothes, sunscreens, shades etc so I am not bothering to note them down.
Anyways, now I’ll leave for my plunge.
Untill next time, stay happy & fit J.
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Happy Birthday Hrithik Roshan – The Star of the Millennium Part 2

by Tina Basu
written by Tina Basu


So I am coming back after almost a month to finish the rest of my long post. I am such a hopeless blogger I think at times. But in the last few days, I have been a little busy with work, home, movie and visits from some unwanted tracking cookies that have been slowing down my laptop. I still need to figure out how to remove these stuffs permanently. Anyways coming back to HR, here’s the list of the rest of the top five HR movies I love.
Krrish (2006)

After the successful Koi Mil Gaya… the father son duo came back for yet another hit movie Krrish – the sequel to KMG. As Krrish, HR became the first Indian Super Hero (at least in films, unless you are considering Shaktiman, Aryaman etc in this list). We also saw one more Super Hero very recently… but let’s not discuss ‘Random Access version One’ over here and remember the ghastly story. [Yes I saw it and I know how grisly that it]. I was in my second year graduation when we ran to catch this movie at some stand alone theatre, somehow fighting for some good seats. I loved him both as the earthy Krishna and the suave Krish (I meant looks – I even liked him in Kites [again I’m referring to looks and not the movie]). We cheered for all the dance steps and actions and criticized Priyanka even more for dancing so horribly in the song Dil Na Diya. We all felt you should practice like hell if you are sharing the screen with HR for any dance sequence.
DHOOM 2 (2006)

I can guarantee it is not only me but all others went gaga about HR after Dhoom2. He looked, danced, walked and robbed with a magic, the ‘HR charm’. Definitely my 2nd best HR movie if I start ranking. I remember we bunked classes to catch this movie, [those were the days, how I wish we could bunk work and go for movies!] I don’t know if this happens everywhere across India but in Kolkata people throw money (coins/notes) with the entry of the star and every hit song. And I was also one of them that day. I also have the DVDs and I have lost count how many times I have seen it!

Jodha Akbar (2008)

I was doing my post grads in Bangalore when the buzz about the movie appeared. Many (like most of the skeptics) wrote off the movie even before it’s promos telling another period drama, and it will also fail like Mangal Pandey! For God’s Sake how can someone compare Jodha Akbar with Mangal Pandey??? People even criticized when the songs were released stating they were too slow… what do you expect Akbar will go disco dancing or will be doing Hip Hop with a sword as his prop? Here in Bangalore we had to maintain a very high percentage in attendance, [how cruel that used to be] but bunking classes had its own charms. Thankfully Forum was much closer to the college and we went hi tech by that time, with laptop, wifi, datacard (since half of the things would be blocked) and a card!! So obviously we ran for the show after some lectures to catch the low priced morning show so that we can be back by afternoon to catch the other lectures. See what all movie buffs do. We couldn’t even wait for the Sunday!
For the first time I thought a man looked so handsome with a moustache, and wearing such costumes. Who would have ever imagined Akbar to be so handsome? I had read the reviews in paper that it was such a looong movie and dragged unnecessarily, somehow I never felt that the length of the movie was any negative point. I also liked Aishwarya, [I do not like her much], I felt she was the best possible actress to go with HR as Akbar. I try and watch the re runs of this movie on TV specially because of the beautiful romantic song ‘In Lamhon ke Daman Mein’, and ‘Jashne Bahara’. There are many scenes of sweet nothings which are very difficult to emote, and that’s what HR did and made it look so effortless. That’s the beauty of a great actor. Definitely it’s the best HR movie in my list. J

Guzaarish (2010)

I haven’t seen this movie in a theater, and I regret that. You read a review and you get de motivated to watch a movie. And I didn’t get any companion for Guzaarish. Sometimes people need to realize every movie needn’t be the ‘commercial masla’ movie and film making is an art. I liked the plight of the paraplegic Ethan Mascarenhas, his helplessness, and spirit to live and above all classic acting by HR and also ARB her name in too long now with the added second surname! Whoever compared this movie with Hugh Jackman’s Prestige should first see the movie and then think about comparing.
Agneepath (2012)

Now if I had finished this post on time then the next movie would have been Zindagi na Milegi dobara… but now that I have seen the first day first show of Agneepath (2012) I can’t possibly have any other movie here. It was a great experience in watching the metamorphosis of Vijay Dinanath Chauhan in a whole new way. Please don’t try to compare this with the original Agneepath because apart from the plot nothing is similar. A movie review is also coming on its way. Over the last decade HR has simply evolved from a good looking handsome actor to a coveted star whom you can rely on. Hats off to you Duggu for your achievements and wish you the very best for your life , may you bring more happiness to everyone.  
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Happy Birthday Hrithik Roshan – The Star of the Millennium Part 1

by Tina Basu
written by Tina Basu

As the demi god turns 38 today, I am thinking of wishing the ultimate hunk in my own sweet lil way. It was back in 1999 when the first promo of the cult film Kaho na Pyar Hai was aired and I had gone weak in my knees and that remains same even after 12 years. The adulation, admiration, adoration, affection, love has not changed ever since (and I am sure it will never change). So here’s wishing the Azeemo Shan Shahensha many many happy returns of the day. I hope he reaches the pinnacle of success and is in good health always. I have already Tweeted to him… let’s see if he replies.

For me Hrithik is the ultimate versatile actor who can enact, I guess, any and every character. Be it a charismatic and sexy thief or a mentally challenged school boy.  On this occasion, I am going to list down my top 10 Hrithik Roshan Movies and my stories attached with each one of them.
Warning: I think this is going to be a long post, can’t restrict my words about HR.
Kaho Na pyar Hai (2000)

This movie took the entire country by storm, I am sure there aren’t many people who have not seen this movie (if you have not then please see). In this dream debut of HR both the characters of Rohit and Raj made the ladies go crazy. And yes I am also one of themJ. I was in school at that time in eight standard and there were two groups amongst the girls… the pro Hrithik and the anti Hrithik group. I almost cursed each and every one in that anti Hrithik group who dared to comment on his looks negatively! (It’s better I don’t write that here). 
I remember a particular incident. It was a December evening when me n my younger cousin brother were watching TV and this teaser was aired on either Channel V or MTV where this dashing looking guy in specs walks away with a pink duppatta in hand ( a scene from the song ‘kyun Chalti hai pavan’) and my brother said, another new comer “koto to el oar koto gelo” [ so many new comers came n went] that was the time I had told him – this is the man to watch out for, he seems a different material all together and boy was I right.
That was the time when audio cassettes existed and I was happy to save my pockets money and spend that on the cassette. I will not right more on how I felt after watching the movie because by now you must have already guessed that I was completely blown over. I also bought the official DVD latter and till date I have watched in more than a 100 times!!! Yes… that’s true and I can still watch it. J

Mission Kashmir (2000)
I quite like action movies and if that had such a handsome terrorist then how can I miss it! I remember the day our final exams of 8th got over ever one rushed to the theatres to see Shahrukh’s Mohabbatein.  That time I guess I was among a very small number of girls in my class who went the other way and dragged my mom to watch Mission Kashmir. And I loved the movie – not only Hrithik but the story too. Whoever differs with me here please excuse me, I will never be satisfied with a negative review/ comment about this movie. 
The lady who sat next to me cried each time Hrithik cried [ I remember this vividly because she was wearing something white and the light from the screen made her the brightest person amongst the crowd and her sobs were distracting me].



Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001)

This was an out and out Shahrukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan movie, but the brightest amongst them for me was the dashing and sexy laddoo (the grown up one)! If someone looks so handsome and dances like dream, then who cares who else is on the screen… at least I don’t. When people were going crazy about Pooh and her ‘attitude’ I was going gaga about Duggu [if I write like what I felt on all those times then I should be writing ‘My Duggu’J].
I had gone to watch this movie with a cousin sister and she was a [I don’t know if she still is] SRK fan and we kept on fighting during the movie on SRK looks better, HR looks better, HR acts well and so on and faced the flak of some irritated fellow movie watchers… I apologise… But I still main HR is the Bestest (if I can take the liberty of putting some more superlative).

Koi Mil Gaya (2003)

When people had rejected HR as an actor and felt he was only a ‘one movie star’ and compared him to Kumar Gaurav etc, HR came back as India’s first Science Fiction film. Who would have ever thought the demi god will play the character of a mentally challenged school kid with such an élan. I remember many people/friends who said he overacted and looked horrible etc, to them I have only one thing to say – get a life!
After my tenth exams we had gone for a vacation in Nainital. That was the very time when the KMG team were shooting around there. Some areas were closed down and only after enquiring did we get to know who was shooting. How I wish I could have gone and met him! Hmm… common I was just 15 or 16 that time… J

Lakshya (2004)

I fail to understand how this movie was not a success at the box office. Anyways I don’t judge movies (specially HR movies) from box office success. [Warning: Please never ever think that this HR can ever stand for Himmesh Reshammiya (or however, he spells it), I would commit a harakiri before that].
The confused Karan with the weird hairstyle was as cute as the suave Captain Karan Shergil in his crew cut.  And can anyone forget the ‘Main aisa kyun hun’ experience?? HR became HRBR – Hrithik Rubber Back Roshan J. I don’t know how many times I have seen the repeats of this movie on Filmy, Zee Cinema etc.
Well now that its 11:30 at night I think I should stop here and write a part II tomorrow. I need to sleep, don’t want to turn up late at work, again! So watch out for Part II tomorrow.  
Here’s, wishing Hrithik again – A very happy Birthday, have a blast, party hard and I am waiting for our rendezvous on 26th Jan… (at a theatre near me!!) Will try to catch a first day first show of Agneepath!
Good Night for now!  
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It’s Birthday Time!!

by Tina Basu
written by Tina Basu

Yes… Its Birthday time… no not mine… It’s the first birthday of my little blog The Sunny Side of Life. Can a blog celebrate its birthday.. Hell yeah … Why not? I can’t believe it’s already a year that I am blogging here. Well yeah, as they say, time flies.
Well thank you all of you ( I like playing pretend that I have a lot of readers, that’s exactly why I have put up so many widgets to see if at all I have any) for coming back and reading my posts ( I don’t know if you liked all of them… but I’ll assume you have ). Comments are always gratifying and I go through each and every comment (well I moderate some too).

I will also admit that in the last few months I have been quite lazy and have had many vanishing acts, but I hope not to repeat these vanishing acts so often this year. On this note let me wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year. Njoy. J    
Image sources: Google Images
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Introducing my lil baby – my cook blog

by Tina Basu
written by Tina Basu
After a long time did I manage to pull my socks and start my cook blog. I had mentioned earlier how experiments in the kitchen has become my hobby for sometime, so I decided why not blog about it. So here it is… Introducing my brand new blog of recipes – twinklingtinacooks 🙂 

Well, I have just started updating the posts.. and I will need some time to put up at least one post for each of the categories that I want to write in…. I intend to have 12 categories… from Bong food to English cuisine to Italian, Thai etc etc. So please bear with me till I have all 1 post for each.
Disclaimer : All recipe posted have been tried out by me with some addition of my own, and all pictures posted are also mine. And I will not put up a recipe if it has not turned out nice. My official food tester is my better half who is a big critic also…. [He keeps telling “if you had put this it would have been like a 5 star food” and so on…] so if he has rejected any I’ll not put up that recipe and happily save my face 🙂
So please go through, try out and let me know how they are. 
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