DDLJ @ Maratha Mandir, Mumbai

Watching movie is always fun. But sometime its special too.Its not everyday that you get to see a movie thats been running successfully for the last 14 years. Yes, you've read it right, 14 years.

Yash Raj Film's blockbuster movie Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge(DDLJ in short) has been running successfully at Maratha Mandir at Mumbai Central for the last 14 years. The recent mumbai trip gave me an opportunity to watch it (for the upteenth time) at Maratha Mandir.

There is only one show at 11.15am and the occupancy is above 80%. A huge chunk of unemployed (kasub-less in konkani) youth form a huge part of the audience. The ticket prices are also down to earth, with balcony being the costliest at Rs 22 (see pic)

Don't need to say anything about the movie. Apart from a great storyline, cast, superhit and evergreen songs, DDLJ was the first movie which opened up the most lucrative overseas market for Indian movies.

Shaking hands with Mukesh Ambani

Its not everyday that you get to see Mukesh Ambani. The best way to meet and greet him is at the Reliance Industries Limited's (RIL) Annual General Meeting (AGM). Having attended lots of AGMs in Bangalore, this one was my first AGM at Mumbai.

Its an altogether different atmosphere. The company holds its AGM at Birla Matushree Sabhagraha at Vithaldas Thackersay Marg at Marine Lines. The hall holds around 1500 people (Its too small given RIL' s shareholder base of over 20 lakh shareholders). No cameras are allowed inside. Don't try to take pics, for you may be picked up by plain clothes policeman, says a heavily built man donning a RIL badge. Needless to say, there are around 200 people from RIL who cover every nook and corner of the auditorium and add to it the security personnel. I had to keep my bag with camera at a STD booth in front of the auditorium to enter inside.

The attendance is good and the hall is full, but its small when compared to my favourite Infosys' AGM. The first 2 rows are full of old RIL shareholders who stood by the founding chairmain Dhirubhai Ambani.

But its Mukesh's show all the way. He enters the auditorium with a Namaste to the first 2 rows, talking to few old and loyal shareholders. Then he starts his walk till the back of the auditorium with namaste and shaking hands with enthusiastic shareholders for whom its a once in a year (or should i say, once in a lifetime) opportunity. He thanks everyone for attending the meeting. When he comes near our row, the person next to me, tells him that we (thats me and another couple, Mr & Mrs Pai) are from Banglore. In his typical style, he shakes hand and thanks us for coming down.

The Q & A session is well controlled. Unlike Infy's AGM where anyone can go and raise questions, RIL shareholders have to pass on the slip to Company secretary who then calls the name who come and speak. It goes on for an hour. Though I couldn't stay on till the final proceedings, its was worth a visit (though, I wont say its worth visiting again)

So whats the feeling after the handshake with one of the world's richest man ??

Just hoping that Lady Luck rubs some of her charm she bestowed on Mukesh on me too..;-)

Black & White..

While we Indians shout loud about racism based on colour, the happenings of the last week made me wonder whether we still live in a medival world, despite ours being an educated society.

The biggest evidence of discrimination of basis of colour comes out at the time of scanning marriage proposals. A fair skinned guy is expected to marry a girl who matches his skin colour.

The trip to my native last week was of great fun. It must be, after all its the Car festival and the time when uncles, aunts, cousins came from wherever they are to attend this function. As always there are umpteenth numbers of items to gossip around when there is such a big gathering at home.

There was no dearth of such stuff this time either. As the news spread just last week that one of my cousins was struck by cupid's arrow and even got a go ahead from his parents for his marriage, we knew that the young brigade was in trouble, for he had found a match for himself and stepped intot the domain of his previous generation, after all we are expected to marry a person whom our parents choose for us. To make the matter worse, he quitely recused himself from the event due to his busy schedule. This meant that we had to defend our turf, for we are branded as a generation who never listen to their parents. Though no one had seen the girl till then, somehow they got to know that the girl was dark skinned and was infact no match for our "fair and handsome" guy.

"So you knew about this, din't you ?" an aunt fired the first salvo inviting me into discussion with the gangs of seniors. I nodded the head in affirmation. So I hear the girl is dark skinned, said another. The family debates are tricky, you need to diplomatic yet not give up. Well, that showed he dint fall for her beauty, she must be a real good person, i retorted. But he could have got a better match, said another. I guess that "better match" meant brighter colour. One person feared about the colour of their unborn children. For such a foresightedness, I thought the person must be put into our planning commission panel right away and plan the next 50 year plan. None of them bothered to ask if she mingled with us well or spoke well, all were left wondering what made him say yes to that girl. Needless to say all people in the previous generation were well educated and work with the finesh organisations in the country.

The discussion left me wondering whether education took us back or forth in time ?

"2 States" - Full Time Pass

My B'lore visit for a day coincided with the release of Chetan Bhagath's new release "2 States".

Being touted as an autobiographical of the author himself, the novel is about a Punjabi boy falling in love with a Tamil girl. Their story of how they convince their parents.

Whats special about Chetan is that he writes just what the Gen X (or Gen Y) wants. And what helps is he is not a novelist by profession. This one point is common to all his novels so far and hence NYT has described him as the best selling author of India.

The theme resembles Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, where though in love, the boy and the girl dont want to elope and want that their parents accept their choice. Hence, the boy goes to woo the girls family. The extension in the is that the girl too decides too gain acceptance from groom's family.

I must say its well written. His comic timing reminds me of Paresh Rawal, just too good. The author brilliantly brings out the cultural differences between the north and the south. Its just like Northies are from Venus and Southies are from Mars. The stark contrast is brought out in a humourous way which keeps you absorbed till the end.

The first half dwell with how they meet, become friends and then fall in love. While the second half is how Raj is accepted by Ananya' family and Ananya by Raj's family. Its a bollywood masala movie written into a book with "Kahani me Twist" in the end. Pukka Film material. All this happened to the author himself is purely co-incidental.

Also what makes his books a best seller is the price. At Rs 95, this book by Rupa & Co is a value buy. With no good films this week, I just picked it up and finished it off by the time I reached Mangalore.

So go out and pick you copy now and start reading.... 2 States, Jai Ho...

Austerity Drive - Apun ka Ishtyle.

One of the lessons learnt during the recession of the past year is to cut cost wherever you can. Just like the Austerity drive started by proxy PM our country. But long before she started it, I was already on austerity drive.

Thanks to the day train between Mangalore and Bangalore, travelling has become cheaper. It costs just Rs 126 (101 B.Fees + 15 Res. Charges + 10 IRCTC service charges). Whats more, you can get the tickets even till the previous evening. Its just a God send gift for people who are fed up of the condition of the road between the two cities.

Also an advantage for me is that it stops at Yeshwanthpur which is just a mile from my habitat in Bangalore.

It also gives you a chance to see the beauty of nature between Subramanya Road and Sakleshpur as it tranverses through the western ghats(Photos have already been uploaded into orkut)

And last but not the least, it gives me lots of time to read books, mags and newspapers which i carry (finished reading Chetan Bhagat's " 2 States" this time, more abt it later)

So if you are a traveller between these two cities, just take this train and see the difference.

Hmm.. Its been a long time since I have blogged.. Neither I have got any work nor time.. Anyway, visited Goa with friends. Thanks to Anoop's super SLR cam, his love for photography and writing, me and jayanth had nothing.

So here's the link to his write up on the Goa Trip
http://chitra-vihaar.blogspot.com/2009/10/dudhsagar-waterfall-trek.html

Do give a feedback.. He wrote all that I had to write.