DevD in Delhi-6!

For those who have seen both the movies, I apologize to them for putting both these movies in the same line. Both are I believe complete anti-thesis of each other. But still I saw both movies with eyes wide open. I couldn't believe what I was seeing on the screen. While DevD was showing the generation next, where talking about sex is not taboo, where SRK's Whiskey has given way to ecstasy; Delhi-6 couldn't probably have taken on more cliches than this.

Lemme start with DevD. It was an absolute delight to watch Hindi cinema coming of age. I know the phrase is cliche, but nothing about the movie is. One of the reviews said that it seems that the director showed whatever he felt like, and so he did. The lingo was the one you would actually see around you.. dropping the F word here n there, using Slut to desrcibe even a guy casually. Where sex is not taboo. At times the movie looked a bit abstract, especially during a few songs where 3 men would start gyrating to the wonderful music like the presence of 3 witches of Shakespere. Initially, I was shocked that how could anyone show that on screen. All the 3 actors, Paro, Dev, Chanda couldn't have played it better. I especially loved Chanda! And then am addicted to its music. Keep listening to it in a loop!

And how so much I may nnot want to, I shall have to think about Delhi-6. Disappointment is such an understatement. I was appalled, and enraged. Making a whole movie on something like Monkeyman was a reason enough for me to not like it. Though, initally I was enjoying it very much. Having grown up in Delhi-6 myself, I was getting a childlike pleasure in seeing those areas. But those were only about 5-10 minutes. Then those shots gave way to the artificial sets and the whole smell of the old Delhi was lost. Though all the characters were very good with great artists to help them, but then you need more than good characters to make a good movie. FIrst, the movie got the facts wrong. Monkeyman phenonmenon never happened in old Delhi. It struck east Delhi. N then there was no purpose of the movie. You could see its not going anywhere. And then those in your face morality lessons on caste system, religion, dowry, and what not! I felt like screaming that pplllllssssss spare us the ordeal. And if anyone was expecting a better second half, sorry guys! The monkeyman was being called Hindu from one community on account of Hanuman being a Hindu God, while Hindus accuse the Monkey to be a Muslim terrorist. Thats where I lost all patience. Height if ridiculouness! I was only too happy to see Abhishek dying, deriving a sadistic pleasure, but UTV could not tolerate even that and brought him back to the mortal world after serving him Jalebis in heaven with Amitabh in his most avoidable comeo. The movie is so bad that I have started to avoid one of the finest albums everby Rehman after watching it! I feel like suing Rakesh Om Prakash Mehra!!!

Guys, go see DevD again after watching Delhi-6 if you want to regain faith in Hindi movies. M sure it won't disappoint! You'll like Delhi more in DevD than in Delhi-6 for sure!!

The beloved Dhabas... I'll miss you!

I went to college after quite a few dayz. Since I entered from the back gate, I didn't notice then. But while returning home, I could see it.. Or rather not see it.. My beloved dhabas are gone. Demolished, eliminated, decimated, cleared!

IIFT life and dhabas, could they ever be thought of without each other? The only place where I could hope to venture out to, despite the most gruelling of schedules I have ever seen in my life. The paneer parantha, the aloo pyaaz ones, the ghobhi parantha, mix-veg parantha, the macorroni, methi parantha etc etc etc... Storming the cold freezing nites of winters, we would savor those paranthas and wonder what would have happened had they not been there. I thank God that I never had to do without them!

A place, that many delhities have been frequenting for decades now, has succumbed to MCD's orders to clear the encroachments under some hawkers related act. I don't think any other dhabawala could ever dream of achieving fame equivalent to that of Tanku! A brand in himself. While driving back, I saw him lying on the cleared platform, which used to witness the buzz of the youth at any point of time in the day. Thw whole green stretch is silent now. Perhaps brooding over the demise of the kiosks that gave life to this street.

The cheap food is gone, perhaps someone somewhere would have gotten the license to operate a restaraunt in a posh market somewhere instead. India, sure is changing!

Gone are the days, and gone are the dhabas! Like 100s of IIFTians and students from nearby B Schools, I will miss you dhabas!! May your souls rest in peace!