Be Proud!!!

Hey readers, just call me genius, I don’t mind. And ‘Be Proud’ as you have just entered a blog that has been featured in the ‘Blog Watch’ column in the New Indian Express (Kerala Edition) on some Sunday in December, 2009. As late as late can be, I am still flashing the ‘exciting news’ here.

Obviously, I missed it out to mention then, but trust me it really happened. Ask my ex-classmate in Calicut University, now a journalist with the New Indian Express, Kochi, who was the master brain behind this operation. This is a classical case study of free publicity gone underutilized!

The moral of the story: news should be served as hot dog with image or video support as the least authenticity you can provide. Apologies for letting slip this norm. The image of the newspaper column featuring my blog will be updated in case I find it whilst eating groundnuts in some food joint. (Situation may vary)

Cya around, friends!
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Movie Review - Milenge Milenge

Expectations would naturally be up on a Kareena-Shahid starrer post Jab We Met, but Satish Kaushik’s Milenge Milenge doesn’t have much to offer.

The story is about Priya (played by Kareena Kapoor), a college-going woman who holds no career ambitions but all dreams about her soul mate who she thinks will meet her soon. Incidentally, that leads her to rendezvous with an illusionist (played by Khirron Kher) who tells her she would soon meet her life partner in some far away land.
To her disbelief, she gets the chance to lead a dance program in Thailand as part of international youth festival.
Whilst walking across the beach, she identifies Immy (played by Shahid Kapoor) as her life partner that the illusionist had mentioned in the cards. They bond together but soon part ways after Priya comes to know that he was fooling around. Immy begs her for a second chance. As redemption, she asks him to write his telephone number on a fifty rupee note and uses it to buy a book on which she jots down her number and sells it off to an old bookstore.
The essence is, if the destiny of their relation still holds true they will surely end up meeting again. Remember the not-so-old Hollywood flick, Serendipity? A thankless rip-off though.

Three years pass by and Priya laments her decision to put destiny to test. She decides to trace the where-about of Immy and sets off to Delhi. To her disbelief, she finds back the fifty rupee note and puts Immy’s telephone number on dial only to realize that it was his day of marriage. But a turn of incidents lead his marriage being called off. And the rest is Milenge Milenge.

This film is laughably absurd. In between all the drama, one is even forced to take lessons on anti-smoking and drinking that is far too uninspiring. I really hope a non-smoker does not start smoking after this.
A word about the music, Himesh Reshammiya does it again with his mass-produced songs which seem all alike.
Apparently, the film which tells about the power of destiny in life itself seems to have got destiny engraved way too sooner in just about a day from its release. Milenge Milenge is just a run-of-the-mill movie with a blast of retro-style romantic garbage. Watch it at your own risk.

Lucky!!! No Time For Love...

For me the aura about celebration of the most powerful emotion on earth was felt exactly a month ago while I was busy weaving verbal images for Le Royal Meridien's Valentine’s Day ads. I was forcing to drown myself in the ocean of love to come with some magical words(Gosh! Am I trying to convince I had never fallen in love?). That’s not true. (:-) / :-( )

Then I saw the day approaching. Shops were all stacked with valentine gifts, cakes, and curio on the eve of the ‘D-day’. After my retail therapy in T-Nagar and Pondy Bazar, like on all Saturdays, I was coming back to my den (yes! I am a Leo) with some cheese buns in my bag.
Well, I was thinking why people wear that lovelorn look on their faces in the eve of Feb 14. I really do. Why don't they divide the heavy emotions of rejections or not finding love, in little possible ways? (See the third person narrative I used just now. I am a typical Indian, which is why I pretend the feeling of love and rejection is alien to me and I am a good gal always, …Ghanta aall iz well…)
Ok follow these steps; as advice is always free at any time, any day. Take it or Phenk it.

Hey singles! You are blessed that your Feb 14 falls on a Sunday and have enough time for an extensive retail therapy. Get yourself a pair of lenses or a statement eyeglasses. Or if you find that lavishing attention on yourself couldn't work a magic, give out those cheese buns in your bag to the children of lesser fortune. You will be blessed, dear. Empty some of your wallet into alm trays. Or if you want to donate in other ways, visit a local NGO. Use the 75% discount chance and buy some clothes for brothers and sisters living on streets. I have seen children walking without footwear in the scorching heat of Chennai. 

Take the spiritual route. It helps too, if you're sure there's a canopy of some Super Power over humanity. 

And hey, THIS WORKS!!! Turn down friend requests on Orkut, FB, Tagged, whatever, just like the way you were rejected by your bae. Turn down all stupid requests, unless they're buddies - you don’t want to lose friends in the heat of the moment, am I right?

Nothing works than penning down pieces of your own life history and pretend you are some author.  You'll be amazed how tougher times in life indeed turn to be the most productive ones.


Spend time with your friends, family and people who think you are special to them, and still more, rely on the ubiquitous music, TV, Internet, books, food, what not, to get you sail through this special occasion of love. Why would anyone feel lonely when there's so much options to dive into? 

When we think about the people who are less fortunate than us, it can put our own problems into perspective and may leave us feel… Lucky!!!! No Time For Love…

Hello Readers!!!

Today is the last day of the first decade of the second millennium. So I will give it a miss if I do not blog on this very special day of 2009.
This year made me an independent and responsible big lady and at the same time marks the end of my fun-filled college days. This year had given me loads of experience, fun, and sad moments alike, sad that I miss my friends in college, the time when I knew nothing about the challenges of a world in real out there.
“And there… I can see a star shining ahead…
Is that me? I am waiting :-)”
I wish all my readers a very Happy and Fabulous New Year 2010...

Home New Home!!!

With just over a year of its construction, the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Calicut, has finally moved-out to the brand new building near the CHKM library premise. Prior to relocation, the department was located in Chenakal (a local place name), aka the "Chenakal University" as informally termed by the student populace.
The foundation stone was laid on February 11, 2008 by the University Vice Chancellor Prof Anwar Jahan Zuberi.
The new building, with a cost estimate of Rs 64 lakhs, comes with the state-of-the-art digital arts facilities, an impressive audio-video and multimedia laboratory, promisingly to continue the legacy of producing quality journalists as ever before.
The traditional Kerala-model mix of architecture adopted in design of the building resembles a typical Naalukettu, with its inner central open courtyard (Ankanam) only. The central focus is the roofed porch attached to the central structure with two columns for support that leads to the vestibule.
The first floor which is construction-in waiting is proposed to be allotted for the Department of Political Science. An idea to construct a seminar hall in the floor is in discussion and work will start anytime with the approval of the Syndicate.
The Assistant Executive Engineer Abdul Gafoor K, Department of Engineering, is the man behind the house design. Built in 805 square meters area, the ground floor counts an office room, five rooms for the HoD and teaching faculty, AV lab, multimedia lab, library, restroom for ladies and two washrooms.
The need for a sophisticated building and latest technical facilities in a changing media scenario is a dream come true thanks to the Vice Chancellor Prof Zuberi who had helped in all ways to speed up the construction process and last but far away from least, the Former Department Head, Sasibhooshanan Nair, who was the chief planner, supervisor, architect, all in all.
The department thanks all who have been instrumental in making the project come true.

For the exclusive image gallery, visit our Dept of Mass Communication & Journalism website at: http://univmasscom.org/univ/image

"Never Say Diet"

Hang on…I m not here to give you suggestions on how to easily fit into that size-zero designer apparel as does the title too suggest, but hey, I would rather insist you to see thro’ the glasses of Ladies Against Skinny Diet.
Enough is enough with all the annoying news about the size-zero fad and its stars eating out the main headlines of news channels and the lifestyle columns of national newspapers. It seems as if the Indian media too is out to prove the ‘beauty before brains’ theory right. To top it all there’s this dangerous entrant these days, the cosmetic surgery, with its experts and advocates vowing on their new-found happiness in their social and love life by going under the knife.
Now, it is not that we should be against this all, but the ‘beauty’ is being continually stereotyped. Being fit and looking beautiful is always great and pleasant to the eyes but at stake is the concept of a wholesome diet and natural physique. The age where stars make it out to support for gay rights and so on with point-blank media backing (also, I m not against gay rights in India; indeed would be happier to see them join the mainstream), why don’t they see the flaw already within their system? And that is what it makes the whole game ridiculous.
Being smart, smarter, smartest isn’t enough, the way a woman look is far more important than what she has to say. Consequently, a media report claim that 90% of women lament on their natural physique as opposed to mere 45% in men.

Flip through any lifestyle mag for that matter; half the articles try to persuade readers for getting it perfect. If I quote a magazine “Lose those last 20 pounds, look sleeker, you will have it all- the perfect marriage, loving children, great sex and a rewarding career.”
Here, why do we impose the standards of beauty on women when majority of them are naturally larger and bulkier than the sculpt-like models? The reasons are galore. In the first place, it is the economics of running pure business. We all know by presenting a model difficult to get and maintain, we usher in a plethora of cosmetic and diet products and it’s no surprise that there are vested interests.
Consequently, the results are wary too as you read about the teenagers and women by and large are keen on fasting, skipping meals, excessive exercise, laxative abuse, and self-induced vomiting. And the reason? They feel that they might lose their spouses to younger women or because they want to look as good as someone else. The pressure is rising by the day.
I take cue from my experimental diet to imitate a Brazilian model’s skinny diet, a solitary carrot for 24 hours of metabolism. Of course, I ate 5 carrots that day, but nearly fainted at the end of the day. Amazing how they work 365 days, yes?

Hence, a solution must be found on the media created hype about skinny diet and related issues. In the first place, fashion industry should put a ban on models looking ultra-thin. Let’s not forget the recent story of a model who died of cardiac arrest, thanks to her love-to-hate-food resolution. Till now, supermodels meant super-thin. Why don’t we instead solicit voluptuous and realistic models to drive in the concept of positive body image; being skinny is no role model.

Still want to cut those extra calories? Then snub all fatty foods, eat three balanced meals and maintain high metabolism right through the day.
So all the average-sized ladies (and others), this article is for you; ‘feel special, feel hatke’ as losing calories is not all that counts in one’s life that need to be perfect. Shun out your skinny diet, and be a total foodie as it doesn’t come to all. Take Care!

A Survey Experience

Its the election fever.. thought I should write down my experience as a Field Investigator, for the Centre for Electoral Studies, Thiruvananthap'rm, assigned to a rustic village in Kozhikode Parliamentary constituency. I enjoyed the designation as part of a pre-poll cum post-poll survey during the General Elections 2009 in some way or the other. The post field investigator seems so hefty to me, guess what? I was a Field Investigator (though for juz 3 days), before reverting back to my age-old designation that of a student. But I tell you its is nothing special than tolerating the feel-sorry looks of old women and the doubtful looks of old men in Muslim dominated areas of Calicut, who are chosen randomly for the All Kerala opinion poll survey. Why are these men so cynical when they come to encounter simple questions in politics? Had I been a Muslim girl, I surely would have been recieved well in these homes notwithstanding the honest answers I may get. Women sympathise me by my appearance as naive and childlike (truth be told lol) and also so short of money, perhaps thats why they see me wandering for getting the right persons out in the sun. Some ask me whether it is some innovative game to vote for their candidate even before elections and invest them in a small ballot box (the casting of vote in a secret ballot used for the opinion polls).
End of the first day of a bumpy and weary survey ; I wasted half the day in searching the samples in wrong places, accidentally meeting a lovely old couple who served me lunch with great love for a stranger like me.
Day 2. There's no option left for me than to hire a bicycle to go by, if I had to locate the voters in the list provided to me. Now, thats something a novel approach as far as girls are in question. I had to somehow cajole a cycle mendor to hire me a cycle in the promise that I would return his gadget by evening. and he did provide me one! God bless....

And now to some election news...
The ACV pre- poll was telecast on TV on 12 and 13 April in which it predicts 13 seats for UDF and 7 seats for LDF with 4 pc voters remaining undecided.
Let us all wait and see how this election turns out to be, whether it be favour to UDF as the poll predicts or does it take a U-turn? 48 hours remain...