Friday, December 31, 2010

Rhyme for this year

Posted by astuti at 5:08 PM 0 comments
Another year goes by...

The kid within screams, don't judge her please,
She's had loads of crap this year, just stop this piss,
She craves to sleep again and dream in peace,
But she's afraid of just what she'll miss!

She wants to have faith and love and hope;
giggle simply and laugh out loud;
cheer, jump and let the time fly
go grab the impossible and make it worthwhile!

'Coz sometimes you have to follow your heart,
even if it takes you somewhere you're not supposed to be.

Sometimes you have to dream big,
And think of ways to dance and jig!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Movie on my mind: Break Ke Baad!

Posted by astuti at 8:43 AM 4 comments
There was a time when movie-buffs waited for critics on talk shows and newspapers to review a film before deciding whether they'd like to see it. But these days its normal to just wait for your friend's status messages on the weekend after release, telling whether they liked the film or not and watch the film based on the take. Or the more curious can read some blogs before taking a call- coz anybody and everybody is a movie critic, including yours truly! :)


So, yes I did the same and had almost 10 updates on my home page, and everyone said somethings in the line of "the only thing they enjoyed was the break(interval) in break ke baad!" A few did say it reminded them of their own long-distance-relationship too but they were naturally lower in number. 


After having decided to watch the film nevertheless (by almost dragging my highly skeptical hubby) I realize that, the status messages were incredibly mean or people trying their hand in tongue in cheek humour (break-ke-baad and intervals! get it? :P)!'coz I sure enjoyed the film. Must say, its not something that will leave an impact on you- not change your take on love or leave you with much to think about but its definitely worth a once watch!


Before you read ahead, I have to warn you that one of my friend's actually thinks "I am an incurable romantic, hence my reviews are always markedly different from everyone else.." He doesn't know this, but I thought that was a compliment! :D So anyway, here's my two cents, I thought the film was well directed and very well edited. Its a superb job in technicality with some fab locations in Australia added to the mix. But what about the movie eh? Its cute. There's just no other word for it. Imraan's cute... Deepika is cute... Their pairing is cute... I'm sure you get the hang of it! :P


Vishal and Shekhar know the pulse of youth and so their music is usually young, hip and zippy. Repeating the trend, the composer duo has rendered some interesting and upbeat songs that are bound to be liked by music lovers, especially the young generation. It offers a robust mix of songs that are hummable and will be enjoyed by a majority of people.


Seriously, don't go expecting a 'Devdas' or a 'When Harry met Sally'; expect a few good one-liners & natural acting. Go for two hours of cute, modern rom-com & you're not going to be disappointed! It is a 3 star material with really good music. P.S: don't miss the last casting song. Nice work on the editing of that one. Oh and guys and girls, please don't miss the oh-so-hot-hot-pants of our leading lady; she has a body worth worshiping and she does give her bhakts a nice darshan. Who am I to complain, I'm a firm believer of 'If you got it, flaunt it!' :P

Well love stories are not always about intense, passionate love... sometimes its just about cute friendship turned love- interwoven with lots of leg-pulling. This is just that! And what can I say, I had fun! :P








Monday, November 1, 2010

Another Classic: Not Sure Yet

Posted by astuti at 12:11 PM 0 comments
"Not Sure Yet" Singer Andy Lange


Its a simple song that touches my heart 'coz well "its simple!" I love the three lines that constitute the lyrics of the song "I'm not sure yet about life, about love, but in time I'm sure it'll all be fine." Haven't all of us thought the very same sentiment sometime or other in our lives? And don't we always want to believe in the power of just that.  Check it out... It's sure worth listening to. :) (Courtesy Leverage)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB_tUxtra3Y&feature=related

A Child-like Dream

Posted by astuti at 9:41 AM 0 comments


Remember those days when we laughed just for fun, simply because we were happy or because we were pulling someone's leg? It felt good to bring laughter and joy to those around us as we shared our teasing and playful mood with them. We found ourself joking with friends or amusing other children and laughing so hard that there were tears in our eyes and our stomach hurt from all the laughter. No matter what we did, we felt humorous and joyful... 

Its been ages since I have done that- Laughed just for kicks... Or let the kid in me, out. She's been playing peek-a-boo somewhere in the background but there's just been too much to deal with and I haven't taken the time to go play with her. I know a cynic would say "Welcome to adulthood!" but I'd like to believe I'm balanced enough to know that its only when I approach the world from this perspective, that I'd lighten up in so many ways... Its only then that any tension that weighed upon me would lift, my eyes would become brighter, and I'd like to believe my smile'd light the room. :) Things that would have frustrated or angered me on another day will just have to make me laugh then as I'd want to shrug it off, freeing myself from unnecessary stress.

Of course I'd have to make sure that my humor uplifts because its so easy to use humor to demean and accidentally hurt people, which is certainly not my intention. I'd like to look for the sparkle in their eyes, the joy on their face and the sound of their laughter; get past their defenses, and maybe remind them of their inner child. And maybe in doing so, I'd go back to that play ground where all children are carefree and playing like its the most serious thing to do. Where the biggest thing worrying me is, what to say when Mumma calls me home, and I want to play longer. And maybe, just maybe everything else will take care of itself..!

Oh well, a girl can dream, can't she? :)

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Desh ka Maiel... Indian Rail! :)

Posted by astuti at 9:30 AM 1 comments
Indian Railways Advertisement
Umang and I drove back from Agra like maniacs, 'coz I was bent on watching CWG Inaugaration Ceremony that I had forgotten to set for recording in our Tata Sky Plus. And I'm so glad we did it. Not only did I see a live example of  India Shining, (weren't the fireworks just brilliant?) but I loved the new Indian Railways advertisement. So while everyone is blogging and going gaga over the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games 2010 (and with good reason!), I am going to be that viewer who was pleasantly surprised by the cracker-of-an ad launched by Indian Railways on a commercial break between the games..! 


The 60 seconds advertisement uses the old 1968 song 'rail gadi rail gadi chuk chuk chuk' famously picturised on the geriatric Ashok Kumar in the film Aashirwad. (The song had also been sung by Ashok Kumar.) The ad begins with a shot of a typical Indian neighbourhood with the sound of marching feet and a distant chorus of the rail gadi song increasing in volume/tempo. What follows next is this chain mail of marching men rallying on through the city - through buildings, winding stairs, an apartment, traffic - with the rail gadi song sung in full throttle! Amusing all and sundry and aptly portraying the reach of the world's fourth largest railway network - the inimitable Indian Railways, the ad ends with the words Desh Ka Mail, Indian Rail!

Do check it out... Its totally cool... Very tongue-in-cheek for a government ad..!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzEKCYb6zzU

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Why do I blog?

Posted by astuti at 9:27 AM 1 comments
Writing, to me, is an extended form of what I feel. I write to clear my head. I write when something bothers me. And I write when I feel strongly about something I have seen or undergone. Private musings I put out there to see if people at large agree with my take on life! My world's complicated that way... good-bad. happy-sad. love-hate... are just words... just expressions... just feelings...


Like all regular bloggers, I enjoy comments from friends or anonymous readers. I like them when they are positive (who doesn't eh?). But I especially like them when my reader, is not in complete agreement and has a different perspective on my thought. It invariably always leads to an interesting conversation (if it's with a friend) or interesting exchange (if it's someone anonymous).


Like many other bloggers, I have also wanted to add a subject of interest to my blog; like my husband says "why would some complete stranger want to read what you are saying?". But on that one front, I have completely failed. I admire bloggers, who can constantly write on a specific subject, like work, design, interiors etc; but I'm sorry to say I am not one of them. I think it's because I'm more perplexed by and interested in, "people"... what they say? how they say it? what makes them hurt others? etc... The psyche of a human mind- whether mine or someone else's; totally enchants me. And so, my blog like me, is a string of constantly changing moods and emotions. You also get to see my other interests- books, music, travel and movies on my blog. But if you'd pay attention, you'd see that they are also, almost always, about people at large. 


So, yes I am not a perfect blogger, but I intend to blog nevertheless. My blog is definitely an open forum for exchange of different perspectives, but seriously... its essentially just me! :)

Monday, September 13, 2010

Life is but a dream!

Posted by astuti at 2:51 PM 3 comments
As children, most of us sang the mesmerizing, wistful lullaby that ended with the words, “Life is but a dream.” This is in reality a deep, sophisticated truth, hiding, like an underground stream, in an unlikely place. This world we perceive as real is quite possibly just an illusion, not unlike a film being projected on a screen. But most of us are so involved in the projection that we don’t understand it for what it is. We are completely caught up in this illusion of life and death and take everything way too seriously.




There are times, when things happen in our lives that leave quite an impact. A few of us there, tug it to our hearts—knowing a precious moment has gone forever. We can ask and ask but we can’t have again what once seemed ours —the way things looked, a certain dream come true, a remembered voice, a loved face. They’ve gone and you can only wait for the pain to pass. But it becomes important then to remember the clichéd saying ‘Don’t cry because it's over, but Smile because it happened.’ Far easier said than done. It can be very difficult to practice for the person actually going through it. 'Coz pain hardens the soul and great pain hardens greatly, whatever the comforter may say, suffering does not ennoble. God is strange in that way. He knows it'll hurt like hell yet he throws things ourway to see how much we'll endure.


Sadly, one of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon, when life would be perfect, when dreams would not be required ‘coz they’ll be our reality. 


But ‘Life is a jest'. What can help, is remembering life is not a play whose lines have already been written, whose end is already known… But just like an improviser, we do have choices to make and the more we embrace the illusionary quality of this performance, the lighter we can be on the planet, on others, and on ourselves.


So take this kiss upon the brow! And, in parting, this much you should know-- You are not wrong who deem that my days have been a dream; Yet if hope has flown away in a night, or in a day, in a vision, or in none… Remember all that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream.

Unborn future...

Posted by astuti at 1:13 PM 0 comments
An angel wrote in the Book of Life
Your baby's date of birth
Then whispered as she closed the book
"Too beautiful for this Earth"

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Someday: John Legend

Posted by astuti at 12:33 AM 0 comments
I heard the song for the first time, when I watched August Rush. For those who haven't seen the film, I highly recommend it. Anyway, going back, I downloaded the OST; and liked what I heard and naturally fell in love with it as i heard it over and over again. The lyrics are just totally gripping. And what can I say about the voice of John Legend, it makes you stop everything else and just simply listen. 


Feel free to hear him here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZpOdpFvtBs


And to die-for-lyrics... 


As days go by 
and fade to nights
I still question 
why you left
I wonder how
it didn’t work out
but now you’re gone
and memories all I have for now
but no it’s not over
we’ll get older we’ll get over
we’ll live to see the day that I hope for
come back to me
I still believe that-
we’ll get it right again
we’ll come back to life again
we won’t say another goodbye again
you’ll live forever with me
someday, someday we’ll be together
someday, someday we’ll be together.

I heard someday
might be today
mysteries of destinies 
they are somehow
and are someway
for all we know 
they come tomorrow 
for today my eyes are open 
my arms are raised for your embrace 
my hands are here to mend what is broken 
to feel again the warmth of your face
I believe there is more to life
oh I love you much more than life
and so I believe I can change your mind
revive what is dying inside
and someday, someday we’ll be together
someday, someday we’ll be together
someday, someday we’ll be together
we’ll be together
we’ll be together someday!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Aisha- Movie Review

Posted by astuti at 11:55 PM 0 comments
Yea baby, Bollywood's done it... Its finally made what I call a Chick-flick and its totally adorable... So mennnnn, don't go- you won't enjoy it as much, especially those who aren't into shopping or romance or happily ever-afters... But for all you women out there, I'd say go watch it ladies. Not just 'Suno Aisha' but also Dekho Aisha! :P


The story is set in present day New Delhi where the essence is kinnda intact and very realistically "Dilli". And unlike all other love stories which on a large scale are melodramatic, Aisha successfully manages to convey the message without any hint of being a tearjerker.


Sonam's world harks back to Jane Austen's giddy-headed British gentry class where match-making was not idle chatter. It was a serious religion. When placed in the neo-rich; totally-spiced-up; politically-charged (though not necessarily politically-correct) atmosphere of Delhi, Jane Austen's characters seem to come alive in unexpected spurts of sassy splendour and unbridled joie de vivre. You can't help but laugh at these young people's self-importance.


Seeking the sparkling spirit from chick flicks like Sex and the City, Confessions of a Shopaholic , 27 Dresses , etc director Rajashree Ojha sets the tone of the film quite correctly. With her feminine perspective, the lady director adds a youthful zing to the female bonding, packaging the film with the requisite glitz and glamour. Also what’s amusing is the interesting characterization of Aisha modeled on Austen’s Emma Woodhouse. Aisha deviously dominates her friends, decides for them and (as her friend Arjun mentions) turns them into her Xerox copies. The silliness of her ideas and actions quite easily amuse and irritate.


Ok, so here goes-- 'Aisha' is a two-hour celebration of pre-marriage rituals. Though no one says it, every girl in the film wants only one thing. And it isn't necessarily love, but somewhere close. The bristle and bustle of Delhi comes alive through the slender intellectual faculties of the protagonists. Let's not forget that Jane Austen had applied great intellectual strength to her "frail and shallow" people. While I wouldn't go so far as to call anyone frail or shallow- I kinnda know what she means! :)


The cinematography by Diego Rodriguez and especially the songs and background music by Amit Trivedi creates a multi-hued skyline in this saga of socialites, their loves, lovers and love tattle.


Although Aisha lacks that depth which would make it peppy, it certainly is not just another chick-flick. It can be enjoyed by people from both the sexes with that bucket of butter-popcorn. Perhaps the writer and the director tried to make something lighter, which would make the movie digestible and easy to enjoy (giving it essentially a feminine touch).


Simply put, AISHA is the story of a Delhi based high-society girl, ahhhmmmm Aisha (Sonam Kapoor), who loves match-making and calls it "social service". Apart from being a matchmaker, she's also an artist who loves gardening and shopping and of course spending her (rich) father's money. Pinky (Ira Dubey) is her best friend. Shefali (Amrita Puri) is a small-town girl for whom Aisha is keen to find a match. Arjun (Abhay Deol) is Aisha's childhood friend cum neighbour cum relative who opines it is Aisha who needs the help herself! Other characters in the film are Randhir (Cyrus Sahukar), who has a crush on Aisha and Dhruv Singh (Arunoday Singh) the dude cum charmer.


The movies main character's a good blend of Shopaholic meets Match-Maker meets Romantic... which is what men would like to call plain girly stuff... But girls, aren't there often times we look for a film that we would rather see with our girl-friends, ('coz men would end up not really getting it)? Well what can I say, your prayers have been answered- 'coz this is just that! Don't take hubby dahlings or boy-friends for this one- it'll dis-illusion your girlyness. I'd suggest, just go with other girls or women and totally appreciate it!


Is it four star material? Probably not. But definitely a three and a quarter star material. :P

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Friendship's day- And what it means to a 27 year old! :)

Posted by astuti at 10:24 AM 2 comments
I still remember the first time I had to explain the term "Friendship's day" to my family... To my teen eyes, they looked so "disillusioned" for not believing in a day that was so important to me. I was even mean enough to tell my mum, she wouldn't understand 'coz she really didn't have friends- All her friends were wives of dad's friends. You needed to feel something stronger to understand the true meaning of the day... (In hindsight I realize I was behaving like a teenager.)


At 15, the first Sunday of August was the day I took special permission from gharwallas to spend the evening with friends... I remember all the friendship's day melas we visited over the years. And how Archies & Expressions Greeting Cards helped, make us believe, that the epitome of friendship was gifting your friend a 'friendship's band' and a cute card; even a gift sometimes (if your pocket money would suffice). It really was a big deal to my teenage self. I went all out... writing poetry, getting flowers, making friendship bands, buying gifts and cards... The whole nine yards! 


And I had a huge bunch of friends. So naturally I'd have to be creative. Some years I'd make my own cards... and some years my own friendship bands... But there was never a year when my friends didn't get some sort of trivia just because 'they were friends.' :)


Over the years I have often thought about continuing this tradition and sending a surprise gift to a close-friend via courier, just to say "I'm thinking of you. And you are important to me." But I have never acted upon this instinct till date. It doesn't mean, I don't have good friends 'coz really I do. Or that I claim these materialistic things have no meaning, "sab mithya hai" types- Hey, I don't believe that either. But there's something that stops me from being as demonstrative to my friends as I was before. Basically I no longer believe in the concept of 'friendship's day' and I find myself as disillusioned about it as my parents once were. But for different reasons of course.


At 27, it just feels so lame to have just one day dedicated to all those people who make your world richer. How can we tell them on one day "Hey I'm glad we are friends, 'coz u r an important part of my life" and not follow it up with our actions for the next 364 days...


Isn't friendship supposed to be the easiest relation to work with? Isn't it about 'like minded people staying together', no questions asked, because they like to? Isn't it about, 'no guilt attached relationships' where you're doing things because you want to, not because you ought to! And most importantly, isn't it about sharing time together, and speaking about normal regular stuff to get a neutral perspective that your husbands/ wives/ girl friends or boy friends can't give you!


I'm sure Friendship means different things to different people. For me, there are friends I love shopping with, others I miss having coffee with... There are 'get-a-beauty-treatment-together' friends and have-soul-searching-conversations- together friends. But really friendship is about a choice- A choice we execute when we say, "I choose to be your friend, 'coz I love how you make me feel. And I'd like to feel that way always." :)


So on friendship's day I dedicate this blog to all my friends- I'm sure you're wondering why you haven't received a call or an sms from me on friendship's day. But you're on my mind and I'm sure you know why I love you. :)


xoxo

Monday, July 26, 2010

Posted by astuti at 1:25 PM 0 comments
"Follow my blog with bloglovin"

Friday, July 16, 2010

Lady Antebellum: Need you now

Posted by astuti at 8:02 PM 0 comments
Here's to some heart warming lyrics. It'll sure mean the world to someone who's loved and lost. Beautiful expressions, even more beautifully captured in words- a simple yet powerful tete-a-tete between heart and love(r).


The Lyrics:

Picture perfect memories,
Scattered all around the floor.
Reaching for the phone cause, I can't fight it any more.
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind.
For me it happens all the time.

It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now.
Said I wouldn't call  but I lost all control and I need you now.
And I don't know how I can do without, I just need you now.

Another shot of whiskey, can't stop looking at the door.
Wishing you'd come sweeping in the way you did before.
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind.
For me it happens all the time.

It's a quarter after one, I'm a little drunk,
And I need you now.
Said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now.
And I don't know how I can do without, I just need you now.

Yes I'd rather hurt than feel nothing at all.
It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now.
And I said I wouldn't call but I'm a little drunk and I need you now.
And I don't know how I can do without, I just need you now.
I just need you now.
Oh baby I need you now.
The Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB7T3lJ3dZ4&NR=1


Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Sex and the City 2: Movie Review :)

Posted by astuti at 8:24 AM 5 comments
To start with, this new SATC film has hardly any Sex (unless the Censor board's chopped it out) and the city of choice this time is not Manhattan, New York but Abu Dhabi.  Well honestly, reading all the reviews I had before, I knew most women found the film a huge disappointment, so I went prepared to confirm them. Maybe my expectation were already set for base level, but being the huge fan that I am, I couldn't just let someone else decide for me. I wanted to see it for myself, and I'm glad that I did. 'Coz though the film really is no competition to its predecessors and the sequel is highly predictable in its flow, I completely enjoyed this 2 hrs 27 minutes of fun, fashion and friendship. :)


I loved the movie as any true fan would. Sex and the City has always shown us the promise of success and friendship and it’s always fun to see the successful group of girls venture off. Carrie and her spunky group of best girlfriends. still carried the underlying theme of friendship in the second movie. Surprisingly, the unconventional, raw series was carried on as was a theme of tradition! We’ve known SATC to be all things nontraditional and yet tradition sneaks in even at  the over the top wedding of their gay friends.


Some dialogs in the film are crazy, some are crude but some are laugh-your-guts-out hilarious! My favorite dialog hands-down was when Miranda and Charlotte were venting on motherhood, it was crazy to hear Charlotte say, “When Samantha told me Harry might be sleeping with the nanny, the first thing I thought was, “NO, I can’t lose the NANNY!”  :D


Without giving away too much, I did enjoy the movie. After spelling out and building on the tradition theme throughout the two and a half hour movie, the adventure seemed to have ended rather abruptly. Which leaves me wondering if there have been thoughts on a SATC 3 (more the merrier). The fashion in SATC 2 however was to die for! I loved some of the costume changes and even the fashions that made you turn your head a little were rocked by the ladies along with equally fashionable stilettos. After 6 seasons of a raw, realistic series I can say that I thought the first movie was a little fairy tale (which I didn’t mind) and the returning of THE oh-so-hot @ 'fifty fucking two' Samantha, the unsure Carrie, an imperfect Charlotte and a frustrated, unhappy Miranda (on the work front) really brought home Sex and the City as we know it.


Yes I know the movie reviews are bad, but I for one was not there for the plot, that’s what the series was for. I was there for the outfits and the clever one liners. And with that in mind, the cast’s wardrobe definitely lived up to the hype. So, to all my girlfriends out there, do drag your husbands/ boy-friends to the theater; it'll definitely be worth a trip :)

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Horoscope dictates fashion... The zodiac code for fashion! :)

Posted by astuti at 10:30 AM 0 comments
I read this article and found it interesting... Check it out... Astrology/ horoscope dictates fashion... (courtesy I diva :))
http://www.idiva.com/bin/idiva/The-zodiac-code-for-fashion?actn=cmtSbt&cmt=yes


Each sun sign has its own fashion code. Fashion and astrology are tied by a strange zodiac code that emits good vibrations for the wearer, says an expert.
As the industry booms and knowledge widens its access, couture-conscious buyers stalking the high street are becoming increasingly wary about the "metaphysical, spiritual and environmental quotient" of the clothes they are carrying off the racks.
The heightened awareness has led to a entire new range of fashion that is arty, meaningful, spiritual and healthy.
"It is not a question of what you are wearing is looking good, but what we are wearing is emitting good vibrations. All zodiac signs are based on natural elements - fire, air, earth, water and sky. These elements produce negative and positive energy, but we choose our clothes without considering our zodiac signs that clash with our inner vibrations," fortune designer Kappil Kishor, a fashion astrology expert, said.
A National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) alumnus, Kappil Kishor, guides people through their choice of apparel to foster harmony and prosperity. He has researched the impact of astrology on fashion for more than a decade.
"My predictions are based on colour, fabric or textures and balancing clothes with the five elements of nature," said Kishor, who owns Rudraksh, a firm that promotes young fashion talent.
For example, "real leather is not advised for those born under the zodiac sign of Leo because the animal hide nullifies the positive Leonine energy while gold does not match the aura of every zodiac sign", Kishor said.
The designer has devised a astro-fashion code for the 12 signs of the zodiac.
As Aries, a fire sign ruled by planet Mars, is endowed with a royal nature, people born under the sign can wear "both pure and synthetic fabrics". "Leather, silver and iron do not suit Arien personality while outfits with multiple cuts in vibrant red, blue and orange flatter them," Kishor said.
The designer advises bright silks for Taureans in light shades like green, white and brown. "The cuts can either be plain or multi-layered."
Pure cotton and linen are best suited for the double-face Gemini twins. "Green and white are their favourite colours while platinum, gold and silver are suited to their sun signs," he said.
Ruled by moon, Cancerians are "unstable and naughty". "Silk, cotton and linen should be their fabrics of choice in white and simple cuts," he said.
The sunny Leo, on the other hand, should not deviate from simple symmetrical cotton clothes in hues of red, yellow and orange. "The lions must avoid leather, feather, silver and iron," Kishor said.
While earthy Virgo is recommended cotton and linen fabrics, persons born under the influence of Virgo must avoid "elaborate cuts and sunny shades". Emerald jewellery in silver, platinum and gold match their energy.
Libra, ruled by planet Venus, should "dress in synthetic silk fabrics. They must avoid red, orange, silver and platinum", Kishor said.
Watery Scorpions should wear fabrics laced with cotton in "red, yellow and orange colours". "Their attires can range from plain to multiple cuts - but they should avoid silver and platinum," he said.
Synthetic and bright silks are advisable for Sagittarius ruled by Jupiter. "They should wear yellow, saffron or light orange outfits matched by gold jewellery," Kihsor said.
While the rooted mountain goats - the Capricorn - are advised "cotton, silk and linen in simple black, blue or brown colour, they should desist from wearing gold and copper," the designer said.
Aquarians, ruled by Saturn and Uranus, should wear "dark clothes to highlight the positive masculine aspects of their sign".
Pisceans ruled by Jupiter benefit from its planets natural palette of yellow, saffron and orange.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Music Review: I hate Luv Storys

Posted by astuti at 9:05 PM 1 comments
I got the album 'coz I fell in love with the songs playing in the trailer- "Jab Mila tu" and "I hate luv storys"... The song is definitely fun which I'd guess is what its intended to be in the film. "Jab mila tu", has an uncanny resemblance to notes of Vishal- Shekhar's big hit "Jaane kyun dil jaanta hai" which I louuued. (so who cares if its similar)! Vishal's voice is simply lovely.
While listening to the album, I heard "Bin tere" and "Sadka kiya" and god are they intense...! Phew! Like all good hindi songs, you'll probably not like it the first time you hear it, but it sure does grow on you. :)

Hear, Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan singing ‘hai kya jo tere mere darmiyaan hai’ in "Bin tere" and you'll start to wonder that too. His voice carries you forward like nothing else does. The song sounds kinnda sad, maybe mournful in some places. My favourite line from the lyric apart from what's mentioned above, is the very beginning of the song: "Lost & lonely coz u r the only one that knows me and I can’t be without u!"
As for Sadka Kiya... Hear Suraj blending his usual rock style in a sad song; really well done. Especially the beginning, "Sadka kiya yoon ishq ka, ke sar jhuka jahan, deedar hua". It is really well done.
Other tracks include Bahara and the reprise version of the same songs, which didn't really leave a mark on me. So nothing much there.  


Overall, I Hate Luv Storys' soundtrack is better than just good. A few songs may remind you of things you have heard before, but overall its a good album. Kudos to Vishal-Shekhar once again!

Friday, April 30, 2010

Oh Africa!- Sensational

Posted by astuti at 1:00 PM 2 comments
Inspiration can come in many forms, sizes and shapes... It can be in what we watch... or hear... or read... What caught my eye, this lazy morning was a simple video (Pepsi advertisement actually) that totally bowled me over. Its concept is simple- call it playful, call it unity or simply call it "Oh Africa!"; the way the makers have done. The music is magnificent to hear and the lyrics are nothing but sensational. 


I later realized that the song's actually from a new album by Akon and Keri Hilson... and the inspiration is... Football! 


When you see the original video, you'll be enthralled by the colours used, just about everywhere. The animated graffiti in the background is another thing you'll find hard to miss. Oh and in the end- when they hit the footballs on the wall and splash...! come out colourful faces... I totally loved that scene. Very creative, I say. :)


The video goes like this...


It starts off by showing a vibrat-colourful room with a map of africa, which then shows 4 people appearing playing drums with dust shooting up from them. They also appear wearing body paint with the same pattern as the wall. Akon then starts singing as more scenes of the drum players is shown. Keri starts singing as the screen is shown being decorated with moving paint in front of her. Akon shows up again with a young african choir, singing with a sunset background. Then scene skips to the body paint room were different people are shown with their face painted, a different country for each as they sing along. Akon is also shown dancing with Keri in the room with the moving paint between scenes. More Keri shows as she sings as the choir scene comes up variously. A scene also shows Keri with the choir. The Footballers Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba, Kaká, Fernando Torres, Lionel Messi, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Andrei Arshavin  (I had to check internet for this... :P) then are shown kicking water ballon like footballs hitting the wall as images appear of them, with similar body paint found on the single cover. Images of other scenes are also shown eg. The african choir and Keri lying on a Zebra pattern like cover. The end shows a wall with the footballers cheering.


And here's the Lyrics:


Oh Africa...

I know that we have to take it to the goal 'cause everyone's depending on we
See we ain't got nowhere to go but up, it's our destiny

We're choosing the way, we'll do what it takes to get to the top of the highest mountain
We'll do anything, we got to prove ourselves 'cause we know

Oh Africa...

See we'll never be able to forget this day 'cause it's the greatest day of our life
See no matter what happens at least we can say "we came, we saw, we tried"

We're choosing nowhere, we'll do what it takes to get to the top of the highest mountain
We'll do anything, we got to prove ourselves 'cause we know

Oh Africa...

This is our time to shine, our time to fly, our time to be inside the sky
Our time to soar, our time to saw, the last one in football

Oh Africa... 





Feel free to check out the videos yourself... It really is inspiring. :)


The Pepsi advertisement @
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXH6U_2xiic


The original track by Akon & Keri Hilson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLwrQE3grGY

Monday, April 26, 2010

Astuti calling Astuti

Posted by astuti at 7:53 PM 3 comments
I’m a Pisces, and by that astrological fact, you get two for the price of one. (Two fishes floating opposite each other remember?) Actually, it’s just a nicer way of expressing social schizophrenia. I’ve come to terms with the reality that there are two of me in most circumstances and situations. Looking into the mirror, the dual thoughts and conflicting emotions that come flying my way through my reflection gives full justification to the oh-so-many wrinkles around my eye. This split personality of mine, is daunting on some days, and completely liberating on others. Most days I’m fairly well put together; facing the world with a smile- my personalities working in sync and in relative harmony, but off-late I’ve been feeling the need to touch base, and try to get on the same personality planet with myself. So today, I’ve decided to have a talk, a heart to heart, from the same heart, from one Astuti, (currently living in denial), to the other, who is not so deluded. Here goes… 


1. Seriously woman, Get a life! No one's interested in you whining all the time. And you do whine all the time!
2. Nothing's working for you... So what? Deal with it! Talking about it all the time and to everyone... is only making you a boring person to hang out with.
3. So you're not a mommy yet...! Telling others what you think they should be doing (as mommies) is only going to alienate them- it's far easier to be a judge than a participant remember? Wait for your turn, get 24x7 experience and then talk your words of wisdom.
4. Get a job. Jeez! please go back to being independent. No, your husband's not going to support the crazy whims and ideas of expenditure that comes into your mind all the time.
5. Make new friends- your current set of friends are busy with their lives; get used to it.
6. So you wanna travel? what's so legend... wait for it ...dary about it...? So does the world!
7. Join that yoga/ dance class you want to. What's stopping you, you idiot?
8. Come on girl, just get down to finishing the stupid list of books and movies you've never had the time for while working, why are you so bloody lazy all the time?
9. Yes you have fallen into a rut... So get outta their. No one can come and do that for ya! Just freaking move before more shit falls on you.
10. And yes Astuti, when normal life resumes, you are going to feel like an idiot for having wasted this break; so do something- anything really!


Take care,
Love,
Astuti

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Free Spirited

Posted by astuti at 1:37 PM 0 comments

Think about it: What if we are free from worldly concerns and mundane cares... What if a feeling of overwhelming security comes over us suddenly, compelling us to cast off our worries and adopt an attitude of free-spiritedness... What if we may be free to do anything, just about anything in the world...? Life would sure be blissful eh? So how do we go about making ourselves free-spirited???

Since we are now thinking about our life experiences in a broadminded way, adventure may be in the forefront of our thoughts. We may be inspired to take an unplanned journey where we allow life to take us where it will. Or we may simply feel driven to drop in unexpectedly to see a friend or loved one. But if we begin to deliberate the details of our spontaneous decision, the excitement of the moment may be lost. We can retain our lighthearted impulsiveness only by giving in to our sudden fancies, and do what our intuition prompts us to do.


Spontaneity can serve us well in life because it teaches us to rely on the insights we receive from our intuitive minds. When we are faced with split-second decisions, intuition can guide us toward those options that are not only thrilling but also life-affirming and conducive to personal growth. 


Many people find the process of making choices arduous because they pour over their options with such ferocity that they become incapable of settling their minds on a single course of action. When we act spontaneously, we assert our faith in our ability to know what is best for ourselves. As conscious stewards of our own destinies, we intuitively choose what is right. The free-spirited spontaneity we feel can help us make the best use of our intuitive mind.


But it is important to believe... believe in where you are and where you are going... believe that life wouldn't cease to exist; but would sure become boring if we stop to think about everything and everyone... So while its nice to plan and be logical for our mind; it is important to be just a little free spirited for the heart and the soul! :)

 

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