The other day IndiaUnbound was thrilled after watching "Me Shivaji Raje Bhosale Boltoy".
After he was done, he sms'ed all friends about this little known movie.
A week later the fire had caught on, the cash registers were ringing and this movie was enjoying a full house everywhere !
Now, the movie buff in me just couldn't stop from going for this one !
So, kal shaam, I went for "Me Shivaji..." with a friend. I did have my reservations as rumours about it being a rip-off of the Munnabhai series had been floating around.
Let me tell you two things -
- It is NOTHING like the Munnabhai saga
- After ages, a movie has made me feel that every little buck spent on it was worth it
I LOVED IT.
I LOVED "Mee Shivaji Raje Bhosale Boltoy" !!!
Phewww....Let me tone down my excitement and thrill. The movie has had a domino effect :D
Ok -
The story - It showcases the life of an ordinary, middle-class Bhosale family. The Head of the family, DinkarRao Bhosale (superbly enacted by Sachin Khedekar) is a simple man haunted by his "Marathiness".
Day in and day out, he is bullied by various people and communities that have taken over Mumbai.
Ridiculed for being a "Ghaati" and a fakeer he is made fun of by everyone.
He is admonished for having dreams for himself and his family and is made to believe that he shouldn't aim for the stars.
Gadha Mazduri karo, pension khaao aur mar jaao.
Isse zyaada paane ki aukaat nahi hai tumhaari isliye umeed rakhna bekaar hai.
Ab apna hero bechara kab tak sehta? Andar hi andar ghut ta raha.
Finally, there is an emotional breakdown.
He feels ashamed of being a Marathi. He cries and laments the state in which Maharashtrians are in today.
Society has been un-fair to the community and how it has become the laughing stock everywhere !
Raj Thackeray would have felt proud at MNS and it's ideology being espoused by this movie.
Little would he have known ki Film ka asli hero toh kisi Fort mai baitha hai...
Aapla Shivaje Raje baba :)
Hero ki dard bhari cheekh Shivaji Maharaj ke kaan tak pahuchi. The movie then takes a pivotal turn.
Now, whether you are a Maharashtrian or not, whether you have been born and bred in Maharashtra all become insignificant.
You are bound to cheer on from this moment in the movie.
I would say it's a MUST watch for all communities.
The movie has a very strong message and is fast paced too. It very finely shows that -
"Believe in Yourself. You are your best friend an you alone are your worst enemy"
No lengthy monologues, no preaching.
Riveting performances by Sachin Khedekar and Mahesh Manjrekar.
Go For It !!
Pheww... a LOONNNNGGGG weekend...this is all that I needed right now...
Filhaal the top most Q racing in my mind...to go or not to go for Delhi 6...
I guess I will...for Abhi and for the pigeon...aye Masakali...here I come...
Just hope it isn't as bad as the reviews make it out to be...I shall obviously join the bandwagon once I have seen the movie...
Till then...hope you all have a fabulous weekend ...
While we shopped at the Causeway and other gullies of Colaba, I made bookings for the Bar-be-que Nation at Bandra.
A group of 8 were looking forward to meeting Edwina and I had been entrusted with the responsibility of making reservations.
Now, for the un–initiated, Bar-be-que is one place which can house only about 100 people. So if you can't make for the time reserved, you shall have to contend with waiting queues which can extend for more than 2 hours.
I was told by a lady attendant that the latest we would be expected to reach would be 7.45 ! After that, they would give away our table !
No amount of cajoling made her budge. She seemed pretty forthright and un-apologetic !
Now, you better serve as rocking a meal as the attitude you have thrown at me Lady, I mumbled to myself !
Boy ! The scene looked pretty different on our arrival !
Bar-be-que Nation is situated at Pali Hill, Khar. The place was bustling with families and couples when we arrived.
A very placed, well lit place it is ! The seating too was very comfortable with cushions for our support.
We were greeted by courteous and energetic staff who were always quick to respond. The place has AC & Non-AC seating arrangements. Going by the constant clatter of the crockery and the staff who kept from running into each other – the place was definitely busier than I had been warned.
Bar-be-que Nation serves Buffet worth Rs.500/- per person.
The starters include 5 Veg and Non–Veg items each accompanied with sizzlers.
You can also select drinks from a wide variety of mocktails, cocktails and Indian traditional drinks.
You are offered unlimited starters followed by a sumptuous buffet and mouth watering sweets.
Every table has arrangements for mini pits and the starters served are placed on a grill over the pits.
The vegetarian Menu had items like Sindh Mushrooms, Veg Falafal served with Hummus, Boiled Potatoes, Tandoori Paneer and Mixed Vegetables followed by sizzlers. I absolutely loved the Saucy Mushrooms and Falafals have always been a hot favourite too.
I was sooo engrossed with our side of the table that I hardly paid any attention to what was being munched by our Non-Vegetarian friends !
Yet, I did notice them having the famous Kebabs which is quite a rage with the Bar-Be-Que regulars.
We ordered for Drinks like Cran Coolers (Cranberry Juice mixed with Lemonade), Virgin Mary, Coke, Chocolate Crunchy Shake.
As the drinks started pouring in and the constant banter and jokes continued, we hardly realised how our platees kept getting filled without us so much as batting our eye-lids !
As said earlier, the staff was pretty enthusiastic and the vibes seemed to spread all around.
Another important stuff all restaurant staff should be aware of is knowledge, knowledge of what they serve. The attendants here were completely at ease with all dishes being served, replete with correct pronunciations and always accompanied by warm and eager smiles.
The Buffet was any Foodie's delight – to say the least.
The menu included 4 types of Salads, 3 Non–Veggie dishes, Mutton Biryani. The vegetarian platter included Dal, Steamed Rice, Veg. Biryani, Paneer Sufiyani, Mix Vegetable, Hakka Noodles, a vegetable made in Hong Kong style stew, Creamy Macaroni, Mushrooms, Buns, Papad and a Mixed Roti basket.
All of us had a blast while relishing the meals. Yes, some of us did lick our fingers too !
As if this wasn't enough, we were treated with some of the best deserts!
A chocolate cake, cheese cake, pine-apple cake, gulab Jamun, Phirni, Vanilla (accompanied with Chocolate and strawberry syrup), fruit plate and chocolate mousse.
Ummmm….Yummmyyy !
I had an absolutely delicious treat at the paisa vasool BN and am definitely going back with my family !
Ratings :
- Food and presentation - 4/5
- Ambience and Décor - 4.5/5
- Customer Service - 4/5
- Value for Money - 4/5
While Edwina was in Mumbai, Shweta and I got a chance to treat her at Delhi Darbar.
It was my first time at the restaurant and I would like to comment on what I liked about the place.
Delhi Darbar is Opposite the Regal Cinema and is very well placed amidst bustling tourists and food enthusiasts.
Since we had a late lunch (at about 3 pm), I expected some respite in terms of crowd. Man, I was wrong !
Delhi Darbar, I am told, is often swamped by regular office goers, Parsi and North Indian people for the mouth watering Muglai food. On Sunday too the place was swathed with families enjoying a lazy brunch
Somehow Shweta managed to make reservations and we all settled down with growling stomachs !
The interiors are done tastefully but have dim lights which gives the place a dark appearance. The walls are decorated with trivia about Indian and Mughlai food.
The seating arrangement was fine yet some more space and comfy seating would be good.
The staff was courteous, ever helpful and dressed in Arabic attire.
All of this set our expectations high and we settled down with growling stomachs.
Over our continued chatter about Edwina's India trip to current Economic Crisis we were kept company by some amazing delicacies.
Though I should warn you to think twice about DD if you are a vegetarian.
The menu has limited yet mouth watering choices for vegetarians.
If you are a non-veggie then you couldn't ask for a better gift on a Sunday !
My companions ordered Tangdi Kebabs with Garlic-Onion Chutney for starters while I downed a Salted Lassi.
We later ordered for Veg. Kolhapuri (Edwina is fond of spicy Indian food), Mutton Biryani, Chikken Tikka, Roti basket, Boondi Raita and Roasted Papad.
The quantity was more than sufficient for the 3 of us.
The rich aromas and delicious meal was very well made and it made us ask for more !
The menu had a vast variety of Mughlai, Chinese and North Indian starters and main course.
Most being Non-Vegetarian dishes, I wouldn't be able to comment much. Yet, from what Shweta and Edwina told me – the meal was more than they could have asked for.
The staff though knowledgeable and courteous, could be a little quick with service.
Though the rich meal had made our stomachs full, we couldn't shake off the temptation for a sweet dish and ended up gobbling hot Gulab Jamuns too.
The bill came to 1000 including taxes.
I would suggest Delhi Darbar to all Non Vegetarians. It's an amazing place to go with family and friends. Though you might want to make reservations since the place often has long waiting lists.
Also, as a vegetarian I would definitely want some more items to be added to the Mughlai and North Indian cuisine.
Ratings :
- Food and presentation - 3.5/5
- Ambience and Décor - 3/5
- Customer Service - 3.5/5
- Value for Money - 3.5/5
Ok, before I go away for the weekend...let me tell you that -
I have been looking forward to this weekend since months now...
A close friend shall be visiting India for the first time (two weeks Bharat Drashan trip) and some friends and I shall be taking her around Mumbai tomorrow.
I have been out shopping for all ethnic Indian stuff for her and am looking forward to this great Gifting Indian ritual !
I generally hate to shop, yet, when it comes to loved ones, I loooveee to go around the bazaars, look around for valuable stuff that shall please and make them happy !
Also, tomorrow we shall be showing her off the Taj, Colaba Causeway, treating her with a sandwich at Cafe Leopold, Lunch at Delhi Durbar/Chetna, trip to the Elephanta Caves, Prince of Wales Museum, a drive along the Queens Necklace, some Kala Khatta at Chowpatty and finally a dinner party at Bar-be-que Nation at Bandra.
I want her to see a LOT more - like maybe the Discs at the Marriott and Lower Parel, the clubbing scene, Haji Ali, ISKCON temple, Prithvi & NCPA, etc...
Yet, to fit all of these and some more in a span of 2 days looks like a herculean task...
Still, if you guys have any MORE suggestions about the "must visit" places in Mumbai...do drop a line !
Thanks in advance :)
Now, you can go ahead and have a greatttt weekend too !
Had a peek at Maharathi last night...
I call it a peek because I wasn't really watching the movie...went along with a friend who I had met after months and so there was lots of catching up to do...
So between our chatter, what I could make out of the movie was -
A shoddy attempt at making a thriller... outlining lives of an old producer, his pretty but greedy wife, their servant and a bunch of other couldn't care less for characters...
An amazing star cast, all keen on bringing to life - oddly sketched characters...
I was told that Maharathi had been adapted from a play and hence looked forward to the experience. However, the movie moved at a snail's pace with no clear end in sight...
One moment there is a murder investigation at hand and then suddenly there is "The End" !
My friend and I were surprised at such an abrupt end...he, more than I, since he felt cheated on paying for such a "Bakwaas" caper :D
What I loved though was Paresh Rawal's act...he had the best punch lines and seemed to the be the only saving grace of this "childish" thriller.
Naseer, Om Puri & Boman Irani have all been wasted in the movie and probably should avoid such capers in future.
Nothing to say about Neha & Tara, though my friend found them to be perfect eye-candies and "Hot".
Spur of the moment escapades always hold special significance…not that I am against planning…yet…some unplanned and impromptu activity with family/friends gives immense pleasure and an unexplainable adrenaline rush…
Okies…before your mind starts racing ahead...I didn't do anything that Exciting !
Just went for a Dance Show…
At Shanmukhananda Hall...
Performed by our very own…
Hema Malini
Yo !
This was the first time I saw Malini perform on-stage…and true to what general public and critics have to say…She was Outstanding !
I haven't seen such grace and confidence elsewhere.
It requires a certain amount of coyness mingled with charm to play Radha and Hema did it damn well !
She was very well supported by Krsna and together they presented some of the best formations I have seen.
The supporting troupe of Gopis and Gwalas was equally enthralling.
The theme traced how Krsna met Radha, how friendship and love simmered and their impending separation.
From playful songs to shy love to heart-breaking separation - total dhamal packed in an hour and half !
The whole set up was so mesmerizing that one felt transported to Vrindavan !
The music was composed by Ravendra Jain and the songs sung by Kavita Krishnamurthy and Suresh Wadker.
Everything - from costumes, to the fluid lights, to the music, to the mish mash of Hindi & Sanskrit Lyrics were very soothing.
It was exciting to have a jam packed hall with a discerning audience who appreciated the melodious show.
This also set me thinking about the complaints we generally have -
Weekend - kya kare..?
Wahi CCD/Barista mai doston ke saath bakar?
Movies
Dining
Theatre/Musical Shows/Hobby Groups/Kavi Sammelans offer lots of exciting options to interested people.
NCPA/Prithvi/Andrews/Shanmukhananda/Rang Sharda and loads of others put up some great plays and musicals…
For sports lovers we have local tournaments that they could attend and enjoy.
I for one, can safely say that watching Music Recitals and Dance shows is more entertaining than going for any nonsensical movie being screened in your vicinity.
I also enjoyed going for the IPL finals! Though it had been planned weeks in advance…yet it was more exciting than watching a no brainer bollywood movie !
Similarly, I experimented with Art Jamming sessions in HK and enjoyed it immensely. It was a novel thing for me and something that spiced up my weekends...
One just has to be open to the idea of this sort of entertainment and experiment - and you wont complain of dry weekends !
Cheers !
PS : I didn't click any pics since some things can just be cherished and appreciated not captured !
Phew!!
What a week - loaded with outings, free dinners, some padhai-vadhai and a spectacular IPL Finals !!
Have been busy with a few assignments…catching up with old friends and spending time with family…
In general - taking life easy !
Talking about IPL - Had been wanting to catch the drama LIVE this time around…had been bored to death by friends and colleagues who kept narrating their experiences. I wanted to see and decide for myself if the T20 actually deserved so much attention.
Yes! It did deserve the attention :-)
The one word that comes to my mind when I look back at the finals is - Spectacular !!
From the opening ceremony, the laser shows, the star studded performances to a nail biting and pulsating climax - everything about the event was spellbinding !
Through out the match, I kept vouching for the "underdogs" and Whoa !! What a show they put up !!
Warne did an excellent job without a coach and managed to get the trophy for a bunch of "nobodys". In true bollywood ishtyle - Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar :-)
Now, I ain't an expert on the game. Infact, I hardly follow it ! I did not know most players and frankly, couldn't care less about the "Strategy" the captains used in trying to out-do each other.
Yet, even as a novice, I enjoyed the game, the spirit, the exhilarating masses, "the Mexican waves" and the mesmerizing Cheer Leaders ! A complete Paisa Vasool match !
Initially, I felt awkward and contained my excitement. Just how could a game bring people to the brink of madness?
However, a few overs into the game, I gave up all thoughts of sanity and joined the crowds in the fun filled banter, the boos and the aahhhs…
The energy exuberated was so very infectious, you just couldn't "not" get affected !!
Above all, I went for the match with 2 close friends who are "experts" in the nuances of the game. It was fun to watch them challenge and boo each other, while their bets played on the field.
All said and done, an amazinnnngggg week !!
