Source: bookmyshow.com

It doesn’t matter whether you belong to the generation of baby boomers or millennials, if you’re an Indian, there will be an innate Bollywood-ness in you. Right from aping the fashion style of the latest superstar to mouthing cheesy dialogues from cult classics, our lifestyle reflects the filminess in us. Who hasn’t gone all Shotgun Shatrughan Sinha and said, “Khamosh”, when expressing filmy anger?

Listed here are some such quintessential Bollywood dialogues that we connect to and perhaps, smile when we hear:

1. DDLJ- “Bade Bade Deshon Mein, Aisi Choti Choti Baatein Hoti Rahti Hain.”

Who hasn’t found themselves smiling when Shah Rukh Khan’ Raj Malhotra casually says this dialogue in response to the little problems that Kajol’s Simran and he are facing? Our lives are a series of ups and downs, and this simple yet profound dialogue from one of Bollywood’s most iconic films is what keeps us going. So, next time you break a glass or go through a breakup (not trivialising the issue!) think about what SRK says…

2. Jab We Met– “Jo kuch insaan real mein chahta hai..actual mein..use wahi milta hai!”

This is one film that gave us a lot of life gyaan… Right from Geet’s zest for life to her belief that you get what you truly want, this Imtiaz Ali film has inspired a complete generation to take chances and follow their heart’ desire. This dialogue, especially, is reminiscent of the Paulo Coelho line in The Alchemist which says that when you want something from the bottom of your heart, the whole universe conspires to get it for you. This is a belief that will get you going in the toughest of times, simply keep the faith.

3. Munnabhai MBBS- “Tension Lene ka nahi, dene ka”

For every person who worried a lot, there is a friend who is the exact opposite. This friend is the one who loves to dramatically give the best life advice- the Munnabhai one being one of them. We have many stressors in life; right from our maid not turning up on time to the Syrian crisis, we are worried about everything. While some problems do require our attention, some others are not to be taken so seriously…and this is where we need to remember Munna & Circuit’s wise words.

4. Dil Chahta Hai– “Pyaar soch samajhkar nahi Kiya jaata…bas ho jaata hai”

Akshaye Khanna’s character truly believes this and rightly so… we all know of someone or have been someone who has “fallen” in love rather than calculated our relationship. Love knows no caste or creed, no discriminating barriers… it happens when it happens…and even if you cannot unite with that love, you can relate to Aamir Khan’s dialogue from the same film, “aaj Pooja, kal koi dooja”!

5. DDLJ- “Jaa Simran Jaa, jee le apni zindagi.”

When your otherwise conservative father allows you to stay out and party until the wee hour of the morning, every time that you drop your best friend at the airport, and every time that you melodramatically hand over the remote to your sibling, this Amrish Puri line from the rom-com of the 90s comes to mind. You may not want to run the length of a virtually unending railway platform, but being told to live the way you want, being “allowed” to live the way you want is a permission that most people still seek from their loved ones.

6. Karan Arjun- “Mere Karan Arjun aayenge.”

Dramatising it the way Rakhi does in the film is close to impossible, but the feeling is pretty much present. Be it optimistically waiting for your friend at the coffee shop for over an hour or waiting for your favourite TV show character’s comeback (no, we don’t mean Mihir Virani!), this is an oft-used filmy dialogue. The faith that Rakhi’s character shows can be symbolic of our wait for something good to happen in our lives… our Karans and Arjuns.

Any self-respecting Bollywood fan swears by their love for these resonating cult dialogues. Do you?

source : filmibeat.com

On Women’s Day, Sumita Chakraborty raises a toast to the unconventional Kalki Koechelin who has dared to be different in terms of – voicing her opinions, doing ‘different’ films or walking a path less taken.

Bold, beautiful and opinionated, she’s the epitome of today’s woman. Yes, we are talking about Bollywood’s rebel with a cause, the very wonderful Kalki Koechlin.

She burst into the Bollywood scene some time ago with a bold and daring film called ‘Dev D’ and though she does play her game of hide and seek by disappearing off to helm some adventurous show or stage play; her films have always been unusual, has a message and have depicted women as strong and bold.

Today, we doff our hats to Kalki Koechlin, the woman because she has always stood for the truth, spoken boldly about issues close to her heart, tapped her inner woman and acted in films that have shown women in the right light. More so, she’s held her own in a male dominated industry where heroes call the shots.

Inner Child

Source : lumieresin.wordpress.com

Kalki’s parents met at the Aurobindo ashram in Pondicherry. Her dad Joel, Kalki says, lived a life “less ordinary”. He walked out of his home at 17, hitchhiked his way around the world and spent time in the holy city of Benaras and then came to Pondicherry and met her mum there. Kalki says, “Someday, I’ll make a film on him. His life experiences are so amazing.” Anyway from Aurobindo ashram – “Though I was born there, I’m not much of believer” – Kalki reached London to study theatre. But after some time there – “England was dull and grey and I missed India especially the spicy food.” – Kalki returned to India. But this time, “first to Bangalore to meet my half-brother” and then Mumbai was her final destination.

She auditioned for ‘Dev D’ – “they were nice enough to allow me to audition in English. I knew Tamil as fluently as a native but not too much Hindi. So English, it was!” And guess what! She bagged the role. “Yes, a lot has been said about the film being too sexplicit but ‘Dev D’ was radical! It was a twisted tale.”

Anyway after Dev D’s success, there was no looking back…. Kalki did a play called ‘Skeleton Woman’ for which she bagged an award. And then co-wrote with Anurag Kashyap, a film called ‘The Girl In Yellow Boots’. In the meantime, her personal life became her focus – she got married to Anurag Kashyap. However, many moons later, after several dramatic twists and dramatic turns, Anurag and Kalki called it quits and got divorced.

Fire and Fury

source : blacknerdproblems.com

A flawed past perhaps spurred Kali on, she went on to star in the award winning film ‘Margarita with a straw ‘which won her the National Film Award – Special Jury Award and then made her directorial debut on stage with ‘Living Room’. Of course, not that Kalki turned her back on commercial cinema ‘It is the jam with my bread and butter.” She starred in ‘Shaitan’, ‘Shanghai’ “Ek Tha Daiyan’, ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ where she held her own despite commercial stalwarts like Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor and others.

Ask her about her film journey, Kalki muses, “It’s strange but I had to fight conventional stereotypes of ‘fair skin’. I think like an Indian. Accept me as one. And luckily, I did roles that showed my potential and didn’t project me as the phirangi type.”

Check out her fearless poem here ->

Causes & More

source : India Today

• Kalki also runs her own Youtube channel where she airs her views, advocates social causes and gives her tips on any and everything. Kalki says, “I really don’t like being put in a mould. I feel suffocated. I do things which appeals to me not what is expected of me.”

• No wonder, her video in collaboration with VJ Juhi titled ‘It’s Your Fault’ went viral. It was a satirical take on people who believed that women were responsible for their own abuse and made insensitive comments. It made people think and that’s exactly what Kalki wanted.

See video here :

• Now on Women’s Day, Kalki is coming out with a ‘short’ film called ‘Naked’. Another film with a message…

Kalki Travels

• And when Kalki is not rushing around making a social message, she’s having fun seeing the world through her travelogue ‘Kalki’s Great Escape. Here, Kalki got her wish – she’s biked with her dad through the North East on a motorcycle odyssey.

As an actor, traveler or a woman, Kalki Koechlin is fearless and stands up for what she believes is right. “I believe that India needs feminism,” she says as she advocates women’s equality strongly. Says no to fairness endorsements and talks without fear whenever she has to say something.

…What do we say except, lets put our hands together to celebrate a bold and fearless woman called Kalki Koechlin. Go girl go… fly high!

With Women Empowerment being passionately discussed right from college campuses in India to Justin Trudeau’s Prime Ministerial Office in Canada, we have finally begun to actively celebrate women and their achievements. They are reaching new heights, not just breaking but shattering the metaphorical glass ceiling.

They are inspiring; we read their success stories in newspapers, hear them talking about their struggles in interviews. How lovely and rewarding being a woman is, in spite of the struggles that they face in a patriarchal society. Listed here are some such inspirational women who truly deserve a biopic and whose story we’d pay big bucks to watch:

• Chanda Kochhar- the bankable woman

Source: ste.india.com

Chanda Kochhar is the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of one of the most successful private sector banks in India, ICICI. She is unassuming for a person who has featured on Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women’s list.

Source: dnaindia.com

She has held stage at the World Economic Forum, seen ICICI through the financial crisis of 2008, and made sure her daughter grows up to be a self-assured, confident, happy, and productive member of society through a heart-warming letter written to her. She believes that the sky, and not the glass ceiling, is the limit. For her tenacity and judgement, Chanda Kochhar deserves a biopic.

• ISRO’s team of 8 Women “Stars”

Source: amazonaws.com

They turned the “glass ceiling” into a joke by reaching for the stars. Minal Sampath, Anuradha TK, Ritu Karidhal, Moumita Dutta, Nandini Harinath, Kriti Faujdar, N. Valarmathi, & Tessy Thomas- these are the names that you need to remember every time you swell with pride thinking about India’s record-breaking launch of 108 satellites at one go. Considered a male-dominated field, space research in India became more “accessible” to girls with a vision to give metal wings to their dreams, courtesy of the positive stories of these eight women. Imagine a biopic featuring eight new faces, giving hope to so many cine-goers who dream of touching the sky!

• Bhakti Sharma- swimming against the odds

Picture freezing waters of the Antarctic and a determined face, ready to take on whatever comes her way. This is Bhakti Sharma, the first Asian woman and the youngest in the world to swim 1.4 miles in the brutal 1 degree Celsius waters of the ocean. That’s not all; Sharma, who started swimming at the age of 2.5 years holds quite a few records… along with her mother, she holds the record for being the first mother-daughter pair to swim across the English Channel. The list is long, so it’s advisable that you look up the woman on Google for her list of achievements! She is a motivational speaker having inspired audiences at IIT and TEDx platforms. Whoever plays the role of Sharma in her biopic is looking at quite a rigorous fitness regime!

• Harshini Kanhekar- encouraging the fire within

India’s first female firefighter, Kanhekar shares an amusing incident which reflects our society’s characteristic lack of consideration for women- during her medical check-up at the firefighting training institute, the authorities did not know what to check for, because they had never thought of it or anticipated it. Kanhekar speaks of wanting to be a soldier, helping out her country in any way she can. A biopic on her will certainly be interesting to watch; a woman fighting a raging fire, saving men, women, and children by lifting them on her shoulders…with a rousing score playing in the background.

• Nirupama Rao- climbing the ladder of diplomacy

Source: mediaindia.eu

For those who think a woman should only handle conflicts at home, here is an eye-opener: Nirupama Rao has been India’s Foreign Secretary, the most important position when it comes to handling foreign affairs. The National level topper at the 1973 All India Civil Service Examinations, she gradually climbed the ladder of diplomacy to reach a position where she was trusted with handling India’s reputation on a global stage. We have had biopics on female politicians before, but this one will be different as Rao stands as a testament of hard work’s rewards and not nepotism.

• Captain Lakshmi – when war made a woman

A biopic on her is a good way of getting children interested in History. A revolutionary, a soldier, a minister, Captain Lakshmi was willing to stand for what she believed in. A doctor by profession, she opened a free clinic in Singapore during her stay there. She has been a politician, a humanitarian, a fighter. Above all, she has been a woman of substance, inspiring many. A film on her is bound to create some ruckus, but it will surely be worth it if it inspires even one person to passionately pursue what they believe in.

It is unfortunate that we have to make an effort to acknowledge and appreciate women that it doesn’t occur naturally in our ecosystem. However, we are surely taking baby steps in the right direction. So, on this International Women’s Day, let’s pledge to make this world a less biased, more appreciative place for every person…after all, these abovementioned women have shown that we (women) can’t be ignored.

Sumita Chakraborty revels in the birth of the new ‘woman’ of the house which has heralded a new revolution this decade.

Gone are the days when women were relegated to just looking after the home and hearth. Today, women are on top. They’ve proved themselves in every field and have smashed all the ol’e stereotypes into smithereens.

And at the moment, they rule the house and work place with the same élan. Indeed, they’ve proved that they can juggle their respective world with dexterity and skill, and have shown that with focus and determination, they can handle anything… anywhere.

Don’t believe us? Okay, let’s prove our point.

Miss World Rules

This girl came from a small town called Jamshedpur. She had absolutely no knowledge of the film industry. In fact, she won the Miss India pageant and everybody in the know can vouch that this girl was focused, determined and worked extremely hard. And from there, she went on to win the coveted title of Miss World and then entered the film industry to become one of the highest paid actresses in India.

Yes, we are talking about the gorgeous Priyanka Chopra. Her dad actually called her ‘his son’ as she looked after the family and her work with as much dedication. Not satisfied to rest on her past laurels, Priyanka decided to conquer Hollywood. “It was a risk I had to take. I didn’t know anybody there. But I was determined to make it.”

Today, Priyanka has successfully straddled between a successful global TV show ‘Quantico’, a Hollywood film ‘Baywatch’ with the great Dwayn ‘the Rock’ Johnson and is also helming popular awards events in Hollywood. In India too, she has many endorsements and is also reading many award winning scripts. How does she do it? “Well, I work hard. I am extremely focused and I make things happen,” says Priyanka. And if this beauty isn’t ruling the world… then who is?

Super Mom

Closer home, the beautiful Kareena Kapoor Khan didn’t give a damn about old tales of pregnant women not being seen or heard. She showed off her pregnancy with pride till the ninth month. In fact, she even shot many endorsements in her pregnant avatar and has even spawned a new mum’s high fashion trend. She looked sexy, sassy and all woman. And even after she gave birth to the gorgeous li’l Taimur, she refused to be a stay at home mum. She was seen partying almost two weeks after she gave birth. Kareena says, “I am proud to be a mum. But I’m also an actress and woman. And I’m enjoying all the avtaars.”

Being A Bachchan

Like her, the wonderful Aishwarya Rai Bachchan successfully plays every role in the real world. From being a wonderful bahu to the great Amitabvh Bachchan and wife Jaya, wife to Abhishek, mother to Aaradhya, and daughter and sister to her mum and brother. And she’s also found her calling in meaningful movies like ‘Sarabjit’ where she played Sarabjit Singh’s sister in the film. Indeed, she juggles all her roles with ease and still manages to look absolutely stunning. Aishwarya believes that in life whatever one does, it should be done with sincerity and honesty.”

Determination Pays

Not far away, there is this leggy lass who started out as a model. Her father Prakash Padukone was a badminton champ and perhaps, she didn’t struggle in the old stereotype way. “My struggle started after I became successful,” Deepika says. And yes, though she conquered Bollywood systematically by acting with all the top heroes, being the number one in Bollywood and sweeping the top awards and honours. Her battle with depression was a minor hurdle that she faced rather bravely. After which, she flew touching the skies or rather Hollywood. Today, she’s been featured in the Forbes list of ‘World’s highest Paid Actresses’ earning 10 million US$ last year itself. At the moment, Deepika has the world at her feet with top designers from Michael Kors to Monique lhuillier vying with each other to dress her up while Hollywood and Bollywood bigwigs running around her showing their scripts while she picks and chooses.

Indeed, she’s the woman of the decade – confident, focused and determined – running her life, career and house her way!

‘Us’ Women

There are so many more women like these wonderful celebrity women who are the true woman of the house. They cook, clean, look after their families and make a career. At home, they are doting mothers, loving wives and bahus. But at work, they work as hard as men.

• They are focused and determined and rise up the ladder through the dint of their hard work.

• They do not use the ‘woman’ card as excuses – in fact, as proud women they work extra hard to achieve new milestones.

Today, we herald the new ‘woman’ of the house. …Women who have proved themselves over and over again. Who have passed the litmus test and have made ‘womanhood’ a matter of pride.

So ladies, put your hands together for yourself – the new ‘woman’ of the house! Yes, you’ve come a long way woman… really long!

So I’m today’s woman… Aren’t I the privileged one? No? You don’t think so? …Well, if you think being a woman of this millennium is a curse, here are 7 solid commandments why today’s woman should be thankful that they belong to the ‘woman’s’ elite club in 2017.

1. Women Can Wear Any Colour

Source: Pinterest

Colour Clever: Ah yes, nothing is as beautiful as the multihued variants of life. Vibrant red, blush pink, neon green, sunny yellow…. And the list goes on… And guess what as women, we can try out all the colours under the sun. Radiant, beautiful and colour crazy… No fuddy duddy boring shades govern our lives. For we are today’s woman – we personify colour so have a kaleidoscope of hues shading our lives. Of course, men be colourful too but then they get tagged as ‘metrosexual’ and what not! Women on the other hand, are to the manor born. Whenever you think colour, you think woman!

2. Women Don’t Care About Facial Hair

Source: FashionLady

Hair ‘no’ Bore: Thank God, we don’t have to bother about a 7 a.m. or a 7 p.m. stubble. No ugh fuzzy facial hair covering our faces and hiding our good looks or worse still giving us that horrid itchy feeling in the peak of summer. We show off my radiant visage to all and sundry. And yes, thankfully, we don’t have a ghunghat to hide our gorgeous looks… Hurray for being today’s woman!

3. Women Have Special Powers

Source : The Huffington Post

Respect Guaranteed: And guess what, as a woman we command respect wherever we go. Let’s look at this scenario…. It’s a crowded bus and there are no seats. The poor men in the bus are hanging on to the bus strap or each other for dear life, and in walks a woman. And a sea of change takes place…. The conductor shouts at the men sitting on the ladies seat to move. And there we have the lady fresh as a daisy sniggering as she sits down in comfort while the men stare at the Gods upwards cursing their lot for not being born a woman.

4. Women Rule:

Source : The Huffington Post

Office Etiquette: Or at office the poor man sits late till the wee hours of the night polishing up the nitty-gritties of his project. He calls up 350 people to cross check the facts and figures, and in walks the Boss who barely listens to him. His woman colleague, on the other hand, flashes her best smile and rattles off the details. Impressed, the boss gives the project to the lady colleague with the best smile saying, “Oh women are far more responsible. I know… I have two daughters!”, leaving the poor man tearing his hair. Lesson learnt: Women rule! …And if this is not proof, here’s one more classic example.

5. Women are superior beings:

source; wiseGEEK

Shopping Horror: The lady of the house walks into the shopping mall accompanied by a ‘gasping for breath’ lord of the manor. The minute she enters the mall, the man laces up his sneakers and is ready to race along with her … And while she goes on a rampage ambushing every nook ‘n’ crany of the mall, the man races to pick up the tab, of course, with a sinking heart… praying the end is near. But the end is never near, of course! Without a hesitation, the lady continues her rampage, picking up a humongous amount of groceries, crockeries and clothes – after all, one should always be ready for Dooms Day. The perspiring man, in the meantime, mentally calculates his fast dwindling finances while he works out his muscles carrying all the shopping bags. Reaching home, looking radiant and fresh, the woman sighs, “oh shopping is sure hard work, I need a rest.” And promptly transfers the running of the home and the hearth on the Lord of The Manor… Oh isn’t it just wonderful being a woman!

6. Women today make the decisions and wear the pants in a relationship:

Source: Elina Bromberg

Travel Travails: The Lady decides it’s time to have a family holiday – “we’ll all bond,” she says – and chalks out the travel plans rather meticulously. Hmm… it is Kulu Manali or is it Sri Lanka… Okay, it’s decided, it’s Morocco! “All you have to do is sit back and relax as I make the travel plans,” she tells the man. From hotel bookings, sightseeing to a food trail, the trip is sure to be a hit. But of course, the worst hit is the man who looks at his bank account dip dangerously to the red level. But of course, he has to look as if he’s having a blast though he’s being blasted inside several times over.. Isn’t it fun being a woman?

7. Women live free and are liberated:

source: Pink Collar Nation

Liberation, Yay!: Forget about burning bras, the empowered Ms doesn’t believe in being shackled by male chauvinism, anymore. She knows her rights and she knows how to get them. She knows when to put her foot down and when to open her mouth. After all, today’s woman believes in being heard, and, how! And so when the lady of the manor speaks her mind, the man tends to look at the floor, praying fervently that the floor sinks and he gets pulled underneath, ready to be united with the maker.

…Ha ha! Be cautioned… this is a tongue-in-cheek article about women supremacy. But of course, in the real world, things are still way different. But for now, let’s just laugh heartily about the so-called advantages of being a woman, and say happy women’s day!

Ever come across a Mumbai resident who hasn’t travelled in Mumbai locals? I seriously doubt that. No matter how posh your lifestyle, everyone at some point in time, may have considered the convenience of travelling by trains, whether to avoid traffic or to save up on cash or may be both. Compared to shelling out more for a bus ticket, or fuel for your car, and spending an hour or two for a journey that would take merely half an hour by train; road travels are definitely ruled out in favour of the swaying rhythm of a Mumbai local. But what makes the local trains in Mumbai all the more special is the fact that no matter how crowded the train, there is always space for one more. How does that work, nobody knows?

As a regular traveller, I have had my share of extraordinary experiences on my daily commute that has made me a firm believer in the fact that anything is possible in Mumbai. And for those who haven’t experienced the rush of a Mumbai local travel, this is something you should definitely not miss out on. Because the things you learn and experience in a local train in the City of Dreams is something, you can never learn anywhere else on earth. To sum it all up, here are some of them to tickle your funny bone.

1. A push is all you need

Source: ayelife.com

You see a train arriving, and the crowd is more than you can bear. Do you miss the train in hopes of catching a comparatively emptier one? Of course not! All you need do is simply stand right in the front of the door and wait for the crowd to push you in. You can try the same thing while you’re getting off the train.

2. Life- a race

Source: assettype.com

The train stops at one of the most crowded stations, and you hear the sound of rushing feet – almost like a herd of elephants would sound – and the race begins. The race to claim a seat, and one of the biggest life lessons learnt right there.

3. You finally own something

After every station you cross, you hear the magical words “kidhar utrege?” and you are filled with a sense of pride where you feel that your existence is worth something. Who cares if you don’t own the railways, as long as you are in that seat, it is yours to do with!

4. Shopping!

Those of you who travel in second class compartments would surely know the joy of shopping from the comfort of your seats while vendor comes right up to you and display their goods. Nothing better than warming the seats while you bargain for a product you aren’t gonna purchase in the end. At least we learn some bargaining skills in there.

5. Latest movies for free

Why spend to watch a movie in a theatre when you can watch the latest movies, reality shows, and serials for free along with the man, or woman, sitting right next to you!

6. Anger management

Hardly a day goes by without some or the other person starting out a fight (verbal or physical) in a local train. While it is a great source of entertainment for some, it could help you to get that anger management training you are reluctant to admit you need.

7. BO Alert

Source: cloudfront.com

What can’t be perceived even with numerous interactions can be figured out in just one train travel together – body odour. No matter where you turn, you are assaulted by the negligence of people foregoing deos and perfumes. One good thing- you finally figure out how long you can hold your breath without passing out.

8. Size matters

Being an average sized person can be a disadvantage in a local train journey. The tinier you are, the easier you can slink by (or be pushed around) and the bigger you are, the easier you can push the others aside to make room for yourself.

9. Information Overload

Want to know who is dating whom, who cooked what, and what people’s weekend plans are? Just listen in on any conversation around you. You never know you might get a little inspiration to make that delicious and crispy paneer recipe too!

10. Your level of flexibility

Are your yoga positions terrible? Worry not! Just get on a crowded train at any station and unravel your level of flexibility through the various bends and turn you make to let that huge lady pass by. You also get to strengthen your arms while you are hanging onto the train railing with all your strength. Who needs to spend in the gym or on a personal trainer? Not me!

If you haven’t experienced this yet, it’s time to board a Mumbai local!

Sumita Chakraborty lists five valid reasons why she swears off office romance.

You stare across your workstation and your heart suddenly does a 360 degree somersault… oh my God, there he stands… the man of your dreams flashing a million watts smile. You gape as your boss walks in and introduces the Adonis as “the new programmer and a member of our core team”. Hurray! Could Cupid really have been so kind, you think as you do mental cartwheels? And as the days pass, your crush blossoms into a full blown love affair… all of course in the kaleidoscopic world of your mind. He’s everything you wanted in a man – good-looking with the hottest dimples, articulate – he actually spoke about the advantages of Windows Vista 3 for an entire moment which of course, you didn’t hear even a single word because you were too busy mentally dancing around the nearest tree with the cute programmer in tow.

So is it fun having a crush in office. Well, the advantages are pretty colourful. The love of your life is in your office and you’re practically rubbing shoulders with him for almost 12 hours. You can make excuses – work related – just to talk to him and nobody will care a whit. He’s there beside you when you have that ‘eureka’ moment and when he looks at you with awe, you feel as if you’ve won the Olympic gold medal. …Life really can’t get better.

But perhaps as the saying goes ‘all the glitters is not gold’ works in this case. There are several reasons why having a crush at Office can also be the worst thing on earth. Let’s be the naysayer and list 5 good reasons why an office crush can get you so crushed… that you run for dear life to the opposite direction from the word ‘office crush’.

a) The Man Is a monologue king and he refuses to STOP: You walk up to the cute guy, bat your eyelashes coquettishly and ask him a bit about the computer. He starts to rattle off monologues after monologues until the blurry fog of love suddenly lifts, and you actually start to focus, until you can’t fathom any more…. Man, the ‘love of your life’ is a motor-mouth – he just refuses to stop. In fact, he made a boring subject like computers unimaginably more boring. And as he goes on to his tenth monologue without taking a breath, you realise to your horror that the man has barely started and the torture will continue for another hour… decade or more. Suddenly, love doesn’t seem as rosy as it looked before.

Image Credits: complex.com

b) The Man is Bollywoodphobic: But you’re a die-hard romantic, and hey, you’re going to make ‘love’ happen. Once bitten, you steer clear of any conversation about ‘computers’ and you smile dazzlingly at the man of the moment and talk about Bollywood. The man suddenly gets a very haunted expression on his face. He says, almost fearfully, ‘I don’t really like Bollywood – the films scare me – they are meaningless and frivolous.” What? He can’t be for real. But you’re not one to give up. And as you start talking about how good ‘Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya’ is, he asks rather stupidly: what is that? What?? He doesn’t know Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt? He doesn’t know Bollywood. OMG what are we going to do for

Conversation?

Image Credits: carbonated.tv

c) The Man Is Too Sloshed To Bother: Never mind, you say, let’s check his party-o-meter… as you head to the office party. And as the music blast to precarious levels and your boss and your team members start dancing like maniacs, you look around for your victim umm ‘the love of your life’. You find him plonked at the bar nursing some potent poison looking rather gobsmacked. You walk up to him enticingly, ready to ask him for a dance. Until you realise that the reason he’s propped against the bar is because without any support, he would slither off down like the ‘Nagins’ from the TV serials. You take a step in front but one look at his frothing gaping mouth, you realise it’s time to cut slack and run far away.

Image Credits: liquorsky.com

d) The Man is a mommy’s boy: But a person in love is a determined one. So you dust off the not so happy experiences and move on… to him again. This time, you’re sure… no Bollywood and no computers. Let’s talk about travel. Don’t you just love to travel to far off places and get lost in a natural ambience, far away from the maddening crowd? The man wipes his spectacles nervously and says, “I travel every day from Vasai to Prabhadevi – beyond that, I’ve never travelled – my mum doesn’t allow it!”

Image Credits: mangobaaz.com

e) The Man is an ‘Alia Bhatt’: By now you do feel that love is perhaps not very happening. But you still give it one last try. Okay, let’s talk about politics, you say. The man smiles confidently and says, “I love politics. My fave President until now has definitely been Narendra Modi!”

…Perhaps having an office crush is not a very rosy thing. You get to know the flaws and see the warts of the person up close… and do you feel the same love then? Not really!

Image Credits: grabhouse.com

Don’t worry! Sumita Chakraborty pinpoints ways and means on how to tackle the dreaded ‘appraisal review’ syndrome.

Does the words ‘appraisal review’ send jitters down your spine? Yes? Well, don’t worry… Performance reviews are just clear cut ways on the basis of which salary hikes, incentives and promotions are determined. It’s a yardstick by which your performance is measured and reviewed. The advantage of this is that through the appraisal you know how well or badly your performance has been over the last year.

The trick here is not to get flustered when performance reviews take place, instead be prepared and be smart. Here are some fab tips on how to tackle any appraisal review.

Before The Appraisal

Before the appraisal, sit down and ponder over your hits and misses.

• Be Logical: Whatever achievements, feats or successes you’ve had list them down neatly. Explain why the work projects you’ve helmed have been so successful – giving facts and figures, credit to colleagues, and your strategy plans. Explain the highs in a point format. Why the project was successful? Were you responsible for it? Was it a team effort? Be lucid and concise.

• Be Truthful: If something hasn’t worked out, give details about it in the ‘misses’ column. Explain what went wrong and why. And how things can be improved on in the future. Again, there is absolutely no need to be defensive or to hide facts.

• Use a Lot of Facts & Figures: Facts and figures work. They tell the complete story clearly and don’t lie.

• Don’t bother to embroider the real facts: Get to the point. Think of your job description and what you are actually supposed to do. And then clearly list down what you’ve done according to your profile.

On the Day Of the Appraisal

• Start the day by going for a brisk run early morning. An invigorating jog through nature’s bounty will uplift your spirits.

• Dress up well. Nothing over the top. Just wear something that is formal smart and comfortable. You can’t be fiddling around with the top button of your too tight shirt just because it doesn’t fit well.

• Be confident: Don’t get all knotted up about the appraisal. If you are nervous, get yourself involved in some other work so that your mind is occupied. An empty mind is a devil’s workshop.

• While meeting your supervisor, be sure about yourself. Talk assertively but don’t be cocky. Honestly tell him what you’ve done – your strengths and weaknesses.

• List out the various projects you’ve been involved with and your contributions to it. Talk about how you’ve managed to turn it around for the company and in facts and figures, how you’ve made the project a success.

• In terms of failures, talk about the ‘misses’ candidly. Talk about the steps that went into the project. Talk about your contributions and then talk about what went wrong. Also pinpoint where you personally went wrong and how you can improve on your performance in the future.

After The Appraisal

Sometimes appraisals can be pretty harsh more so if you feel that you’ve put in more in your work projects than what you’ve been given credit for. But don’t get despondent. There is always a silver lining.

• A performance review helps you ascertain how your performance is. It tells you honestly your strengths and weaknesses. So you get to know yourself better. It’s like looking into the mirror and seeing yourself for what you are – warts and all.

• As for you feeling low after an appraisal, don’t be. This is just for your good. And like all bad moments, this too shall pass.

• If you feel you are being short changed in terms of promotions and incentives, go and talk to the boss instead of sulking in a corner.

• Also an appraisal works in terms of knowing your own strengths and failures. Accept them and work on your flaws. Iron out all your shortcomings and then move on. It’s no use crying over spilt milk. Now it’s time to cut your losses, improve and then find more challenging projects to take on so that you can show your prowess once more.

• Though appraisal reviews are very important and you have to take it extremely serious, there is however always other opportunities in life. Savour your hits and your misses equally and learn from them. As life is a learning curve, and he or she who masters it, always stands to win.

• So go ahead, be a winner. Learn from the experience of going through an appraisal review and handle all the criticisms or compliments well. After all, bouquets and brickbats are the bricks that pave your personality. Build it up well. So go ahead and rock! Good luck!

Ahoy, movie buffs! Another month has gone by, making us look forward to what the next month is gonna bring (read: movies). With a number of releases lined up starring the best of the actors and being directed and produced by the best too, we can definitely hope something that stays with us long after the 2.5 hours spent in the theatres.

So all of you out there waiting to get your hands on first-day, first show, tickets, here’s a heads-up of what to watch out for.

1. Fate of the Furious

Source – carkeys.blob.core.windows.net

Set to Release on 14^th April 2017

The Fast and Furious franchise has given us amazing movies to look forward to along with being one of the most loved series where action movies are concerned. The movie is the eight in a series of movies that’s stars Vin Diesel, Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez and more. With this being the first film that does not star Paul Walker, who was died in a tragic car accident while the 7^th instalment of the series was being filmed, mixed responses are to be expected regarding the film. But there is no doubt that the film will be one of the most watched films in the month of April, considering the popularity of the franchise.

2. Bahubali 2: The Conclusion

Source – desirockers.cf

Set to Release on 28^th April 2017

The second in the series, Bahubali was quite the rage when it first released in the year. Revolving around the life of Shivudu, a young lad who is later found to be the prince, the movie became the highest grossing film in India. The question of why Katappa killed Bahubali plagued the entire audience that watched the first film. So, is the second movie the answer to all our questions? Let’s just wait and watch.

3. Begum Jaan

Source – akamaihd.net

Set to Release on 14^th April 2017

With a National Award winning director, Srijit Mukherji, working on the film, the movie has already been making headlines for its controversial nature. Set in the year 1947 against the late Independence period, the movie revolves around a brothel that is run by Begum Jaan, played by Vidya Balan. A remake of Rajkahini (2015), a Bengali film, Begum Jaan promises a story worth watching and remembering if the posters of the movie are anything to go by.

4. Going in Style

Source – onedio.com

Set to Release on 7^th April 2017

Starring Morgan Freeman, Alan Arkin, and Michale Caine, Going in Style revolves around three retire buddies whose pensions are cancelled by the bank due to their company being bought out. Having been inspired by a robbery that unfolded in front of them, the three decide to rob the bank to get what is rightfully theirs. The characters of the film lead us through a hilarious unfolding of events as the protagonists try to make things right for themselves.

So get ready to witness some of the best movies coming your way this April and form your own opinion on what’s worth watching and what allowed you to have a good 2 hours’ sleep!

Image credits – bollywoodmantra.com

Sumita Chakraborty spotlights actors who have boldly stepped into domains older actors never went – the bold world of edgy endorsements.

Times sure have changed… At one point in the ‘80s, when an actor was offered a huge endorsement deal for an innerwear brand, she was shell shocked! Not only did she rudely show the door to the poor brand, she refused to ever meet them again. But these days, actors have literally come of out of the closet. Not only do they very readily endorse inner wear brands – all topnotch actors including Saif Ali Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn are endorsing them rather proudly – actors have now gone one level better and bigger. They are now boldly endorsing ads that are catching the eye like never before.

Way back it started with supermodels Madhu Sapre and Milind Soman who very proudly modeled for Tuff shoes in the nude. This grabbed eyeballs and also landed them in a lot of soup as many so-called protectors of society slapped a case of vulgarity on them. But that really didn’t deter these bold supermodels, they went on to do better ads and bigger projects.

Image source : hindustantimes.com

Again not too many people perhaps remember another super bold ad of Bipasha basu and Dino Morea for an innerwear brand called Calida. Dino supposedly got Bipasha’s innerwear off with his teeth. This actually sparked off many a controversy then. And Bipasha and Dino went on to become noted actors.

Image source : indianaddivas.com

Actor Pooja Bedi, fresh from the success of her debut film ‘Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikandar’ with the charismatic Aamir Khan and her path-breaking song ‘pehla nasha’ which is popular even today, decided to shock Tinsel town by endorsing ‘Kamasutra condoms’. “Bollywood was shocked! They said I was too bold and gave me the title of a sex symbol. Strangely enough I started getting roles of ‘a vamp’ or ‘the other woman’ after that!” she averred.

Image source : sulekha.com

But prudity is now passé. When adult film actress Sunny Leone jumped into the Bollywood fray by debuting in ‘Jism2’ for maverick director Pooja Bhatt, she played a porn star in the film. And even before anybody could judge her, she endorsed ‘Manforce condoms and did some super bold ads for it. The ads were suggestive and extremely bold in content. Not content with the straight-laced frowning, she jumped in to do a video on anti-smoking. The content was edgy – in the video, she was married to a chain smoker and it was their suhaag raat and the poor dulha who was cigarette ridden, before he could even touch his bombshell wife played by Sunny, breathed his last – the message was loud and clear.

Image credits: filmymonkey.com

Don’t smoke and jeopardize your life – absolutely cutting, bold and sassy – and Sunny Leone received kudos from all stratas of society for doing this daring social video.

Not too far away, another edgy actor thumbed his nose at prude naysayers. Yes, we are talking about the full of beans Ranveer Singh who had not only proudly endorsed the condom brand ’Durex’ but he has now come out with a sensational ad for Durex jeans which supposedly is not really jeans but another condom range. The tagline of his ad is super clever and has got a high five from the denim GenY. It said the guys who refused to pass on your genes, is now out to get your jeans. Clever marketing strategy which has grabbed eyeballs and has got a huge yay from the tinder gen. By the way, Ranveer himself proudly tweets these bold taglines for the brands. And his huge fan following do the same.

Image credits: rediff.com

The ‘Queen’ of Bollywood Kangana Ranaut may show off her bold persona today with her sensational quotes but not too many people know that she was her bold and wild self right from the beginning. Way back, she did a Levis ad which had a tagline ‘Stuck On You’ where she was atop the back of a shirtless model. Perhaps that spawned an entire revolution inside her at that time to mould Kangana to become what she is today.

Image credits: XciteFun.net

The bold and the beautiful Radhika Apte is also one actor who is perhaps rather understated. She does sensational roles which catch the eye of the storm but because she is not very media savvy, she is not termed as Bollywood’s boldest best. But she too has done the very edgy ad of ‘Anouk’ which talks about workplace bias towards pregnant women. Tagged as ‘Bold is Beautiful’, this ad is of the ethnic segment of Myntra, ‘Anouk’. Extremely hard-hitting and smart, it works like magic in terms of its social message which is simple – it is a myth that pregnant women are less efficient. Absolutely amazing and effective!

True, gone are the days when actors were shy about endorsing a bold theme or a concept. The new Gen of actors are super cool and love to experiment. And given the right concept, they jump into the brand wagon to endorse the bold and the best. Three cheers to them!

A deck of cards is always a point of attraction for all ages starting from 9 to 90. Whether it is a family outing, a friends’ night out or a get together, a card game is always the centre of interest and loved and enjoyed by all. Apart from providing a great pastime with your friends and family for any occasion, card games are also great sources for boosting mental skills, memory and logical power. Watching TV and getting drowned into the phone apps and games is certainly not the right idea to spend time with your friends and family during weekends. There are lots of highly interactive and interesting games that you can play with a set of card this weekend or every weekend to come.

Here are a few very interesting card games that you can learn and play while you are with your friends and family:

Source – amazon.com

UNO: UNO is an American Card game that is played with a specially printed set of cards or deck. The game is set with an aim for the winner to be the first player to score 500 points. One who achieves these 500 points by discarding all of his cards and also earning points equal to the cards still held by other players is declared to be the winner of the game. The deck for UNO consists of 70 cards that include ten cards of each colour – red, green, blue and yellow, and each colour consisting 2 cards of each rank and of special design. The ranks in each colour consist of zero to five. The game can be played by 2-10 players who are aged above 7 Years.

Cards against Humanity: This is a very interesting and interactive card game that could be played to add fun to your party with friends and family. Your friends would love to groove into such a game where they have to fill-in-the-blanks with interesting statements including words and phrases that are deemed as typically offensive. If you have a group of friends as weird as you are then this is the game to make most out of your party. The game is simple in which in each round one player asks some questions from the Black card which are to be answered by others from their white cards. You can make your own deck by downloading and printing it and also may have your set bought online.

Source – amazon.com

Monopoly Deal: Derived from the Board Game Monopoly, this is a card game that came into its role in 2008. This is a game to be played by 2-5 players aged above 8 years. In this game, the players try to collect three different sets of complete cards that represent the properties from the board’s game. This they do by playing directly or stealing from other players or by renting for their already existing properties. The 110 card deck represent wild cards and properties, monopoly money denominations used to pay rent and some special action cards which can be banked as money or played for their effects.

Source – tqn.com

Crazy eights game: Little older kids in your party would love to play this game. A 2 or more player game, Crazy eights game commences with the dealing of 5 cards to each player. The game starts with the putting of a card by the first player that would match the face-up the card by either number or suite. In this game, eights are considered as wild cards and can be played over any card. When one plays eight then he says ‘Suits are now jacks’. Players then have to play the jack or pick a card or set of cards. The one who is first to get rid of all cards will be marked as the winner.

Go Fish Game: To collect a set of 4 cards is the objective of this game. By asking them on the other player on their turn, players collect cards. If you are to ask for a card you must have a card of that rank with you. You would be eligible to play one more turn if you receive the card. If the requested card by you is not available with the other player then you would be told to ‘Go Fish’. In such a case you have to take 4 cards from the top of the pile and add into your set. On such a move the cards from pile get discarded and one who gets rid of all cards wins the game.

Snap Game: Though this is a good game for 2 players you can also play with more players accepting the fact that the cards may not be distributed evenly. The Snap Game teaches the skill of alertness to the players. At the starting of the game, the cards are distributed among the players. The game starts with the putting of one card from the stack of each player to the centre of the playing table. If there are two consecutive cards that are identical then the players would shout ‘SNAP’ and put their hand over the centre pile. The one to do this first would place it at the bottom of his deck. The winner is one who acquires the entire deck.

Source – imgix.net

31 Game: An easy game to play with friends and family and with kids as well, 31 demands basic eligibility in maths as it requires the addition of numbers till 31. Not less than 3 players could play this game. The game will be played with 3 cards face down and the rest of them will be at the centre of the table. The players are only allowed to look at their cards. The aim of the game is to score 31 and the one who does so will be declared as the winner. This they could do by picking up a card from the pile and simply discarding one from your hand.

These fun card games are fun to play as well as educational and suitable for players of all ages. They are easy to learn and can be played by players of any age group for time pass or enjoyment at parties. And if you love playing cards on a professional level too, try out these gaming console offers

Sumita Chakraborty profiles the super-hot sisters of famous celebrities.

They are as beautiful as their more famous siblings. However, they prefer to stand outside the shadows of their larger than life famous siblings. Meet the lesser known sisters of famous celebrities…

Dippy’s Sis

Deepika Padukone’s sister Anisha is a professional golfer. Perhaps not as svelte as her stunning famous sister Deepika who has also forayed her way into Hollywood as well as Bollywood, Anisha in her own way is actually very charming. Though she tends to shy away from the spotlight especially of the glam world as much as possible, she is quite well known in the sporting circles. However, if you spot her at Red Carpet events, Anisha by the way does look extremely stunning when all dolled up. She has been seen wearing glam gowns and is quite a looker. However, it’s not really fair to compare her to her super ‘Hot’ sister.

Image Credits : lightscamerabollywood.com

Social Media’s Darling

Another famous celebrity – the fit and fab Bipasha Basu’s little sister Bijoyeta who is in her 20s is also quite a looker. She by the way is super-hot and posts innumerable pictures of herself on Instagram. And why not? Their mother who is quite a looker herself in fact can pass off as their sister – she looks so young and vibrant. So we guess the genes have passed on to the Basu siblings. Bijoyeta is actually quite a few years younger than her Bong bombshell sister and is now waiting in the wings to join the film frat. She incidentally has taken the social media by storm with her super cool pictures and amazing outfits.

Image Credits : lightscamerabollywood.com

Mallika Haydon Rocks!

The absolute gorgeous Lisa Hayden who had sassayed into Bollywood with ‘Queen’ originally comes from Sydney, Australia. Her dad is from Chennai and her mum is an Australian. Incidentally, her sibling who is a model inspired her to get into the glam world. But after Lisa made it big in Bollywood, Mallika decided to follow suit. Today, her sister Mallika Haydon has already foraged her way into Bollywood so look out for her.

Image Credits : http://celebritykick.com

The Kaif Effect

Another star sister waiting in the wings is the charming Isabel, sister of the very beautiful Katrina Kaif. Superstar Salman Khan who shares some strong ties with Katrina is actively promoting her. She has already done a film titled ‘Dr Cabbie’ in Canada which is produced by Salman’s Being Human. Isabel has gone through an acting course at the famous Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute Of New York. She has been modelling for a lot of premium brands from the age of 15 but is now waiting patiently for her Bollywood debut. Is Salman Khan listening?

Image Credits :www.infotrops.com

Chopra Sisters

Though Priyanka Chopra doesn’t have any real sisters as her nuclear family consists of just her brother, mom and her. However, she has a whole host of cousins… Starting from the effervescent Parineeti Chopra who has already made her debut in Bollywood and is an actress who has carved her niche to Meera Chopra who is waiting in the wings. There is another cousin Barbie Handa who is also waiting in the fringes of Tinsel Town hoping she’ll make as smashing a debut as her famous cousin Priyanka who has already conquered Bollywood and is now all set to make Hollywood her own. Incidentally, all of Priyanka’s cousins are as beautiful as her. But they are currently waiting with bated breath hoping to make their place in the sun in Bollywood.

Image Credits : mid-day.com

Vj Sisters

Not far away is MTV VJ the breathtakingly beautiful Anusha Dandekar who has charmed the hipsters with her bubbly persona on the small screen. Her sister Shibani incidentally is already a known face on TV. She anchors the IPL seasons and has already kick-started her filmi career. A girl with amazing screen presence, Shibani is all set to win her way into Bollywood.

Image Credits : http://shibanidandekar.com

Kapoor Khandaan

Sonam Kapoor’s sister Rhea Kapoor is perhaps not interested in making it as a heroine. But she does look as good as Sonam. In fact, Sonam depends on her fashion sense as it is supposedly impeccable. Rhea is currently a producer and has made several films with Sonam in the lead. The two sisters are inseparable and are often mistaken as twins. Rhea’s dressing sense is a super wow and she knows all the fashion brands on her fingertips. But does she want to be an actor? No way!

Image Credits : bollywoodlife.com

Family Bond

…And if we are talking about Sonam, can Ranveer be far behind? Another sister in the wings is the lively Ranveer Singh’s sister Ritika. Incidentally, did you know Ritika and Ranveer are actually Sonam’s second cousins related to each through their mothers? Ritika is very pretty and she dotes on her little brother Ranveer. He too is crazy over her. Ritika, however has no interest in getting into films, she’s happy to let her brother hog the limelight.

Image Credits : Rediff.com

A Star in the Music World

The guitar is a star in the music world. In movies, the most romantic characters carry it around with them to win hearts or sing of love and the sorrows of being in love. The flexibility of this chordophone and its range are truly amazing as it deals with the motifs of love, hate, jealousy, sorrow—you name the emotion and it will express it across ages, cultures, and times. People have been strumming and humming their way through life for centuries now.

Our Musical Career’s First Love: The Guitar

As with most things in the market, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a guitar. There are so many varieties, shapes, sizes, technologies—what with the plethora of electronic gadgets and supplies in every music store – making its selection as much a triumph as it is a trouble! It is said that we never forget our first love. You will definitely not forget your first guitar either!

The Cutest is the Acoustic

Source – publicdomainpictures.net

Choosing the right guitar for the first time is a challenge and an opportunity of a lifetime, as far as music is concerned. There is no need to fret too much because the initial choices are very clear: buy an acoustic and grab the dreadnought – the most popular instrument – by its neck. This would be a fairly good decision. But you can take precautions and get better deals online through Flipkart Discount Offers – and a more exquisite experience. Electric guitars are more complex and complicated; they should be kept for the future. Their upside is that they can sound like any guitar that you want.

Classical guitars come with nylon strings which are kinder to your fingers than the ones with steel strings like the acoustic guitar. It is unavoidable that if you want to play the guitar, your fingers will develop some callouses. But surely the most important consideration is the kind music you wish to play. That is the deciding factor for you.

Begin at the Business End of the Buy

Do not buy in a hurry and repent in your leisure. Ideally, take a knowledgeable person with you to help you choose. However, if you cannot find one, read up on the material available either online or by getting a hold of some good books. The priciest guitars need not be the perfect one for you. You may even consider a secondhand piece provided you carefully check out its performance. If you hear any odd sounds, then flee from it. In the end, remember that you will get what you pay for. The popular ones are Gibson, Martin, and a few others.

Source – ytimg.com

Acoustic guitars are usually made of wood materials such as spruce and mahogany or some such evergreen tree. It would be useful to know what the material is and test the sound for yourself. The cheaper ones have laminates of these woods, but buying those would be to compromise on quality to save money.

Whatever you buy, ensure that there is good after-sales service and the guitar comes with adequate warranty and/or guarantee. Do not let friends, salespeople or the likes force you into buying an instrument that is not according to your inclinations and interests. Make sure there are adequate covers and accessories to protect your guitar during travel or transportation. If you wish to compare prices online, you can also go through various offers online such as Bajaao offers and other websites to check out guitars and accessories for you.

Sound Your Depths

Your guitar has to go with your personal preferences and styles. The length of your arms, right or left handedness, and your style of music are some prime considerations. So explore a range of guitars. Once you choose a guitar as bespoke as possible, you should be able to learn more easily and skillfully.

This would mean that you will have to learn the guitar along with its technicalities and terminology. For example, the necks of guitars come in wide varieties and sizes and shapes. These have no effect on the sound since it is the body that the sound is heard from. The neck of the guitar comes into play only when you grip it.

Source – coustii.com

Find Your Forte

Do you wish to play country, rock, or western music? Then choose the acoustic guitar. These again vary in shape and size. Identify the purpose for which you want to play and practice on the appropriate guitar for the best results. Companies that produce them have signature uniqueness. Testing them out may be time consuming, but most rewarding in the end, for they give you value for your money and, more importantly, keep out frustration and save your avocation, hobby, or interest from withering away.

We Will, We Will Rock You

The buying of a guitar and playing it needs some time and study, but it is well worth it. Visit a shop with an expert friend and have them play it to you from a distance so you can judge the sounds. With adequate practice fired by your love of music, you can stand out among a crowd to be a musician worth reckoning. You will rock them, surely.

Image credits – pallibatani.com, Rediff.com,indusladies.com

Want to spot a star? Sumita Chakraborty tells you of all the star haunts in Mumbai where you’re sure to spot your fave star.

Psst… you’ve just landed in Mumbai or you’ve been in Mumbai for donkey’s of years and yet never spotted a star? …Really? You’re there right in the midst of Tinsel Town – Mumbai is the land of stars – so it is really surprising that you’ve never spotted a single filmstar. But don’t lose heart… We are here to ensure that you don’t leave the land of superstars without spotting one.

Welcome To Mumbai – Juhu Magic

They say any film buff who is in Mumbai, should land up at Juhu to take darshan of his fave superstar, the doyen of Hindi cinema – Amitabh Bachchan, In fact, if you are in Juhu, just ask the autowalla to take you to Amitabh Bachchan’s house, and sure enough, no directions are needed. You’ll land up at a bungalow with mammoth sized walls enclosed with a big gate manned by stern security guards. The bungalows name is ‘Jalsa’ and is the abode of the Bachchans. And once every day, the superstar does come out to his balcony to wave at his fans. Supposedly, it’s at 9 a.m. in the morning and at times, at about five or six in the evening. During his birthday or festivals, you’re sure to catch the entire family – wife Jaya, son Abhishek and his wife Aishwarya waving at the onlookers.

Image Credits – http://starsunfolded.com

Bandra Bonanza

Likewise, you can head to Bandra to a house called Mannat – again there’s no need to ask for direction, it’s a landmark by itself – and sure enough, you may get to spot the charismatic Shah Rukh Khan. Shah Rukh often steps out of his balcony to wave or send flying kisses to his fans. At times, he does come down and meet his fans especially during Idd or festivals but he is invariably accompanied by bodyguards. But he is said to be extremely warm and amiable and greets everybody with a lot of respect.

Image Credits -chiloka.com

Closer to his place, overlooking Bandstand, is an apartment called Galaxy Apartments. This is where the very popular Salman Khan resides. If you see a crowd outside his gates, know that the superstar is casually lounging on his balcony and people are jostling against each other to get a dekko of him. He is very often seen on his balcony accompanied by his family members – his brothers and sisters, and his bodyguard Shera.

Other than that, you can head off to the iconic Mehboob Studio (in Bandra), and you’re sure to spot many stars. Almost every day, there is a shoot and you’ll find the famous and many other known faces out there.

Image Credits -lightscamerabollywood.com

Star Haunt

If you belong to the older generation and you really want to spot Dilip Kumar, you can head to Pali hill, Unfortunately, his health is not too good but he does spend time on his balcony so you can get a glimpse of him.

Image Credits : indiatvnews.com

Another frequent haunt of the stars is the very iconic Prithvi Theatre. You’ll find a lot of stage and television actors frequenting this place. Sitting at the famous Prithvi café, you can even spot stars drinking Irish coffee at a seat near you.

Image Credits : http://buzzninja.in

There is another popular haunt which is frequented by the likes of Malaika Arora Khan, Amrita Arora, Karishma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor and it is a restaurant called the Korner House in Bandra. This is supposedly also owned by Salman Khan, and you’ll find many stars here. But this place is practically haunted by these four best friends – Malaika Arora Khan, Amrita Arora, Karishma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor – who tend to come here for some wine and gossip.

Image Credits : thekornerhouse.com

Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor are also big foodies so you’ll invariably see them trying out new high-end restaurants in and around Bandra. But the place they visit very often is again The Korner House. So also Dia Mirza and her husband Sahil.

Another popular place is Olive Bar and Kitchen – this place too is very popular with the stars.

Close to Juhu, JW Marriott is also one 5 star hotel that many stars go to. For business – in terms of interviews– for chilling out – you’ll find them at the coffee shop or the poolside restaurant.

Image Credits : marriott.com

PVR Theatre is another place where a lot of previews take place. So you can spot any and everybody – from Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, Sonam Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor to everybody.

Image Credits : theinteriordirectory.com

Another very popular haunt is Taj Landsend at Bandra. If you’re lucky you’re sure to spot Hrithik Roshan and his sons digging into a meal there or Shahrukh and l’il AbRam roaming freely all around.

Image Credits : taj.tajhotels.com

TV Talk

If you love TV, head without any doubt head to Filmcity. You’ll invariably bump into so many of your fave stars that you’ll wonder whether tellyland is actually Filmcity.

Image Credits : holidayiq.com

…In Mumbai, it’s not difficult to bump into a star as there are so many premium stores and restaurant launches happening where invariably a star lands up to cut the red ribbon or be the chief guest. So if you are at the right place and the right time, it’s tough not to bump into a star. After all, Mumbai is the land of films, stars and glamour. So go ahead, pick the right place, and you’re sure to meet a star!

Mystery books are a great favourite of readers at any age – from adults to adolescents and even younger kids. Children are naturally curious readers and they are even more interested if they find someone they identify with which, of course, would be other children. And as if by magic, to answer this need, the central characters are young boys and girls; though there can also be amateurs and professionals, awkward bunglers and focused sleuths. In fact they can be just about anybody. They are universal. More importantly, they are loveable and ideal role models for growing children who may be unwilling to learn lessons from his/her parents. Reading these, children have their imagination stimulated and activated. Mystery books are the closest to an education with entertainment, and their heroes are the next best after parents to teach them morals. And with a number of Amazon offers on books, getting the best ones for your kids is hardly tiresome!

Here are the top 7 must-read mystery books/series for children:

1. The Geronimo Stilton & Thea Stilton Series

Source – coloringtop.com

Elisabetta Dami has created the detectives mice brother and sister in her series of books, Geronimo Stilton series and Thea Stilton series. These narratives naturally include a lot of play on words pertaining to mice, A Fabumouse Vacation for Geronimo, and cheese, The Mysterious Cheese Thief, and other items that give mice pleasure. The titles are very engaging and help learners pick up new languages and language play with enjoyment and ease. Four Mice Deep in the Jungle is a play on the words mice/miles, and the golf-loving, happy-go-lucky hero is a charming character. The books are illustrated deliciously and are written in colourful fonts that attract and amuse the young readers. In fact, Geronimo prefers comfort to travel. But his sister Thea is restless for action, and when circumstances force them to travel, they do so with absolutely delightful results. The series is also paired with various games that entertain children and educate them on various fields such as language and logical thinking. These two series are ideal for 6- 12 year old readers.

2. The Famous Five Series

Source – ucweb.com

Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five revolves around two boys, two girls and a dog who, along with their close friends, have adventures when they come back home for the holidays from school. The novels are easy to visualise and follow. They evoke a deep sense of mystery in the Enchanted Wood, Five Go to a Smuggler’s Top, Five Go off in a Caravan, Five on a Treasure Island, The Five Go Adventuring Again, and many more. The stories can also be read aloud and can therefore be a good bonding time for parents. The Five Have Plenty of Fun, The Five Are Together Again and other such titles help children think and anticipate what is going to happen, important skills for future readers of more complex materials. The books have entertained generations of readers and still remain universal favourites. These books delight children from age 8 and up.

3. Nancy Drew

Source – pinimg.com

Nancy Drew is a young detective who appeals more to girls. She is intelligent and impulsive and her behaviour is somewhat non-serious and fun-loving. The stories are told in the first person, and this makes her a more believable and realistic character. The Secret of the Old Clock, Mystery at the Ski Jump are two titles that promise great adventures and interesting events to read and enjoy. The Mystery of the Fire Dragon and other such titles are nice continuation of children’s stories from the fairy books. Nancy is naturally caught up in such adventures and we find her very often forgetting her daily work to go off on her adventures. Written under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene by numerous authors over the years, Edward Stratemeyer’s Nancy Drew series runs into more than one hundred and twenty books. These books are targeted for readers of 10 years and above.

4. The Hardy Boys

Source – amazon.com

Once again, Edward Stratemeyer created the Hardy Boys series under the collective pseudonym of Franklin W. Dixon. The Hardy Boys are a rich pair of brothers who encounter various adventures as they solve every kind of crime—petty ones to felonies, and remain calm and collected always. They form nice foils to each other with the older one being a thinker and the younger a little more impulsive. In any case, they are very loveable, and charm young readers with their easy manners and unflappable temperament. The Apeman’s Secret, The Yellow Feather Mystery and other books running into a total of nearly 70 are the delight of children who are 9 years old and above. The books are written in a simple and charming language specifically to wean the children from being glued to the small screen. They remain an all-time favourite, changing and adjusting to the times and their values.

5. The Secret Seven

Source – ebayimg.com

The Secret Seven are some of the most characters by Enid Blyton. Many of their adventures happen unexpectedly, but are interesting exactly for that reason. The Secret Seven is the earliest book after which fourteen more follow. The titles always carry the Secret Seven society name. Their work is shown in titles such as Well Done Secret Seven, Go Ahead Secret Seven, Three Cheers Secret Seven and the like. The adventures involve all the seven, but there are friends who sometimes do not like them and are seeking to cause some trouble. Thus, hostile strangers and familiar friends cause intriguing situations that need to be resolved and explained. They are helped by Scamper, their pet dog who is also counted as a member for being useful in their adventures. The Secret Seven are popular with children around the ages of 6-8.

6. Agatha Christie’s Mystery Novels

Source – spisanie.to

Agatha Christie is a successful writer who can be read by children in the early teens to above. She is the queen of mystery with more than sixty-six novels to her credit. The Crooked House is popularly regarded as one of her best novels. Her detectives, Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple are iconic characters in detective fiction. The French detective is suave and sophisticated and has a unique style of investigating. Jane Marple, for her part, is very British and calm in her detective work. Christie also has a very successful mystery drama The Mousetrap. She has such wonderful titles such as Nemesis, a name that aptly describes her detective Miss Jane Marple. Cards on the Table is a chilling mystery involving a group of clever murderers. The Mirror Cracked from Side to Side plays up on some dark beliefs for its tensions. The fact that some of her novels like Murder on the Orient Express have been transformed into successful films shows her versatility.

7. Sherlock Holmes

Source – a24.az

One of the most famous detectives of all time is the fictional Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr. John Watson who narrates the stories. The Hound of the Baskervilles, A Study in Scarlet, and other such stories have won the praise of many aficionados of detective fiction. The detective is a master of disguises, combat, and many other forms of defensive and offensive attack. His other novels include The Sign of the Four, and The Valley of Fear. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has also written numerous short stories. These have been collected in various anthologies such as the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes to name a few. The stories have had a huge influence on many fields in real life such as forensics and so on. Though these books are for teenagers and above, these books are also available in children’s editions.

So wait no more and avail the discount offers on books to gift your precious little ones a treat!

The much awaited movie Baahubali 2: The Conclusion is all set to release this April. Ahead of its release, the movie’s exclusive poster in the IMAX format was launched today at INOX, R-City Mall Ghatkopar. The poster was unveiled in the presence of Mr S S Rajamouli, Director of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion; Mr Senthil Kumar, Director of Photography, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion; Mr Walt Cho, Director – Marketing & Distribution, Asia Pacific, IMAX Corporation and Mr Alok Tandon, CEO, INOX Leisure Ltd. The film, starring Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Tamannaah, Anushka Shetty and Sathyaraj is slated to release on April 28, 2017.

Sumita Chakraborty finds out how much blood, sweat and tears the actors put into their characters in the grandiose film ‘Bahubali’.

Did you watch that magnum opus ‘Bahubali’? Well, if yes, you must have looked with envy at the well-toned bodies of the actors in the film. But supposedly, a lot has gone into the look of the film.

Rana’s Workout Session

For instance, South India’s biggest hottie, the sensational Rana Daggupati, is known for his well-chiselled looks. But he too had to go through a rigorous fitness regime while shooting for the film. In fact, his look was decided first and almost eight to nine months before filming this grand movie, Rana had to go through a strenuous workout and diet regime so that he could bulk up for his character Bhallala Deva, Bahubali’s main opponent. And he looked the part of the menacing mean villain to the ‘T’.

Image credits – gqindia.com

Fit ‘n’ Fab

But for this role, he had to go through a stringent workout regimen which was tailor made for him. Rana by the way, is six feet tall weighing 95 kilos. But for this film, he had to have the bulked up yet sinewy look.

• So his workout regimen started early in the morning at 6 a.m. with cardio exercises followed by strength training and weights.

• He worked out twice a day.

• He did exercises for his abs every day but worked out two muscles each session.

• Food wise, he was taken off rice completely. But he was told to eat healthy food at all times which wasn’t a problem for Rana as he normally eats very healthy stuff.

• His meals began from his breakfast which would comprise eggs, salads and carbs.

• For lunch, a grilled fish and salad would suffice.

• After that, he’d gorge on fruits and nuts followed by lentil soup and salads. Rana would never starve or cheat on his diet. He would steadfastly follow everything his nutritionist had chalked up for his character.

The Great Bahubali

Prabhas, the actor who played the title role ‘Bahubali’ too is a health freak. So for him to get that ‘Bahubali’ physique wasn’t a problem.

Image credits – allindiaroundup.com

• A fan of WWE wrestlers, Prabhas was so impressed by the fitness schedule of the wrestlers that he got the entire workout equipment imported from abroad and installed a personal gym in his house.

• He would regularly workout for six to seven hours. His exercise schedule would be to build up the muscles essentially.

• Dietwise, Prabhas would eat 40 egg whites peppered with protein powder followed by small meals which would be essentially eating healthy.

• Supposedly, he and Rana would hit the gym together at times. No wonder these two wonderful actors look a total foil to each other.

Woman Power

But if you think only the men had to go through a rigorous workout session, think again! Tamannah Bhatia who played Avantika, a warrior princess in the film too had a fitness schedule.

Image Credits – moviegalleri.net

• She was supposed to lose six kilos for the movie which she did with her exercise regimen.

• Her workout regimen was as stringent as the men though she didn’t have to bulk up. But it was also as strict and stringent as the others.

• For Tamannah that wasn’t a problem as she loves to work out and never skips exercising. She has a personal trainer who saw her through the rigorous workout sessions for her look in ‘Bahubali’.

• And her exercises comprised crunches, cardio and more.

• Though she also did a lot of yoga too.

• Food wise, though Tamannah confesses, she has a sweet tooth and loves ice cream – in fact, she says, “Though I didn’t cheat too often while working out for my character in ‘Bahubali’, once a while my fave sin food would be ice cream.”

• But she would make up for the lapse by working out a lot.

• Besides this, she’d have loads of healthy food topped with yogurt.

• Water was also the only elixir she’d have in tonnes.

• And over time, she got that super hot look that her character Avantika demanded.

• The movie ‘Bahubali’ and now its sequel ‘Bahubali 2’ is a treat to the eyes simply because a lot of detail has gone through it. The director painstakingly explained to each of his characters the look he wanted for them. And the actors too adhered to the director’s vision and followed the brief to the ‘T’. No wonder, ‘Bahubali’ and its sequel has been heralded by one and all as a masterpiece. After all, a lot of hard work in terms of the looks and execution has gone through it. Hope we have more such visionary films come our way.

In recent years, video games are extensively popular among kids and adults. Gaming CDs are always a favourite gifting option for young boys and even girls. The latest video games seem to be a hot and favourite topic among school kids and office goers alike.

Video game started as a gadget which was attached to the TV, but is now available for across all platforms, be it PlayStation, mobile or PC. Most techies consider video games to be the best stress buster and the best way to spend their weekends. PlayStation offers on Amazon and other online portals are another bonus to action lovers. Let’s discuss some of the interesting action video games of recent times.

1. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag

Source – primagames.com

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is a game for action-adventure addicts. It is a visually stunning assassin game with a pirate theme. The most amazing and interesting part of this game are the naval battles at different levels. The game has unique & fascinating characters and hence never loses its charm till the end. The key game features let you experience the reverie reality behind the pirate fantasy. This open world game is beautifully designed by Ubisoft and is supported on different platforms like PC, Play Station 3, 4 and XBOX 360.

Black Flag is an amazing game to explore the huge open world and sail across gorgeous unique islands. It is cheap and an outstanding game compared to Assassin’s Creed Syndicate.

Buy Now

2. Grand Theft Auto V

Source – godisageek.com

GTA 5 is an action-adventure and a legendary game. It is a video game developed by Masters of Game Developers and has three lead characters. It has the blend of fabulous game play interwoven with a fable. The adventurous game design and graphics add in a lot of reality to make you fall in love with the game.

It can be played on vivid platforms like PC, Play Station 3 & 4, XBOX 360 and XBOX ONE.

The only major drawback during installation is that it downloads a whopping 5.5gigabytes of updates and this video game activation needs internet connectivity.

GTA 5 is a never boring and is a highly addictive game.

Buy Now

3. Gears of War 4 (Xbox One)

Source – valuewalk.com

Gears of War 4 is a classic game with brilliant graphics. The best part of the game is the campaign and multiplayer feature. The gun game play is bewitching and the story is much better than Gears of War 3. The game uses unimaginable arsenal of weapons like the Buzzkill and dropshot to shoot from different angles. This is an awesome game to play with your friend on a XBOX via split screen. The Game is a must buy for XBOX owners. This game is quite attractive and so are the game play mechanics. The game needs a 32Gigabytes of updates to be downloaded.

Buy Now

4. Battlefield – 4

Source – playstation.com

Battlefield-4 is an action blockbuster and delivers a dynamic fighting experience. The battlefield series of challenging missions makes it an enthralling game. Battlefield-4 gives the best multiplayer gaming experience with vivid range of maps and gaming modes. The graphics are brilliant and the game mechanics are compelling. This is an awesome game to buy if you want to enjoy exhilaratingly high action-packed gaming. The game is supported by platforms like PC, Play station 3, Xbox 360 and XBOX One. Better to invest in an XBOX Hard disk drive to make sufficient storage space for this game.

Battlefield – 4 is a blockbuster action game despite its flaws.

Buy Now

5. Dishonoured – 2

Source – digiseller.ru

Dishonored-2 is an epic game and is a masterpiece. It is a fantastic freeform stealth game with incredible levels. The two powerful assassins Emily and Corvo explore the world with supernatural abilities and weapons. Dishonoured – 2 has inventive & amazingly designed missions which keeps you glued from start to finish. This is one of the best games with a perfect blend of story, stealth and action. The game is consistent and has intense creativity in every mission. The game is not an open world game but gives in more areas to explore. This game is supported on different platforms like PC, Play station 4 and XBOX One.

Dishonored – 2 is a must buy for a stealth game lover.

6. Splinter Cell Blacklist (PC)

Source – gamerassaultweekly.com

Splinter Cell Blacklist (PC) is an amazing game that is visually alluring. This visual master piece is a Ubi Soft creation. This game has a clichéd story with a good stealth. The game has incredible key features like operate without restrictions, killing in motion, the choice to utilize ghost abilities, build a new echelon, unleash prototypes, etc. The players can earn money and buy upgraded weapons to enjoy a fully integrated experience. This game also has great and realistic graphics. You can play the game on your PC or play station 3.

Splinter Cell Blacklist has got better features compared to the previous versions.

Buy Now

If you want to be a gamer for life too, check out gaming console offers on Flipkart and more! Don’t miss out.

Raveena Tandon has been amazingly vocal on social issues – whethers it’s about the environment, animals or violence towards women. While promoting her film ‘Maatr’, the gorgeous Raveena Tandon tells Sumita Chakraborty why she’s so passionate about doing films with a social message.

She’s still incredibly ‘mast’. And she’s still a power to be reckoned with. Extremely articulate and a woman who speaks her mind, Raveena Tandon is indeed a fine actress, firebrand social crusader and a woman who knows what she wants. And currently, though she’s looking ravishing on the small screen in her numerous avatars as a judge, Raveena is gearing up for the release of her hard-hitting film ‘Maatr’.

Choosing ‘Maatr’

We met up with the gorgeous Raveena and asked her why she chose ‘Maatr’ as her come back film. She starts off, “’Arre what is a comeback film? I have been here itself. But the reason I chose ‘Maatr’ is simple. It is actually on the same lines as the Nirbhaya case and the film is extremely hard-hitting and gives a very loud and clear social message. It is a much needed film in today’s time more so as there have been appalling incidents of violence towards women. Too many… and it’s really shameful for our society. Over the years, I have been offered a lot of meaty roles but I chose to do this film simply because it has a very deep social message. This film appealed to my conscience and I think I made the right decision.”

Women Empowerment & More

So how does one combat the violence of today’s world? Actor Vidyut Jamwal had suggested that “all women should be aware – their instinct should recognise a good touch and a bad touch’. What does Raveena think? Raveena avers, “Yes, of course, women should be aware. But also parents especially mothers should educate their boys from a young age that they should respect women. I truly believe that you can spot criminal behaviour from a young age. For instance, you’ll find that when a case study was done on criminals, they found out that their disturbing behaviour started as children when they used to harm animals. When somebody doesn’t understand another living thing’s pain, it is a sign of troubled behaviour, and mothers should be responsible for getting their boys to imbibe the fact that women should be respected or all living things should be respected always. I really want to emphasise this over and over again.”

So what does she think should be done? Should there be a counselling class for boys? Raveena says, “There should be counselling classes for everybody. Everybody should learn that violence towards women is appalling. And there should be the strictest punishment for crimes towards women.”

Diet & Fitness

Moving away from the serious topic, I ask Raveena how she manages to look so ravishing at all times. She says, “I was a fat child and loved my Punjabi ghee laden parothas. But luckily, as an actress, I have learnt to control my cravings. I don’t starve but I eat healthy and I religiously exercise. And that has worked for me.” And is that the reason, she’s had this svelte figure ever since I knew her? Raveena says, “I happen to be very disciplined. Once I make up my mind about something, I keep at it. Being fit for me is important. So I adhere to everything I should be doing in terms of diet and fitness. Also proper exercise gives you a high like no other and so if you work out and eat healthy, you’re sure to be healthy and happy.”

Future Projects

Raveena laughs, “I have completed ‘Maatr’ and now I am in the process of finishing shooting for Onir’s film. And after that I’ll be promoting that film. Honestly, more than shooting for films, promotionals for the films get me tired. I think I have never worked so hard. I have been shooting continuously this last year. But yes, you’ll be seeing me do a lot of it. So you’ll definitely be seeing me a lot soon.”

But before she signs off, Raveena emphasises, “I want everybody to watch ‘Maatr’. I want people to realise that at the end of the day, we end up blaming victims. ‘Maatr’ is a film that shows reality. It shows things as it is. You can’t give it a niche – it’s not a revenge film or a thriller. It’s a film that shows reality. And I am really happy I did this role. In fact, while dubbing when I saw the film as it is, even I got goose bumps. It disturbed me. But it has a clear message. And I hope everybody goes to see it – it is releasing on April 21, 2017 – and learn from this film.

Cheers to this ravishing beauty who lives life on her terms.

‘SAVVY’ Cover Woman Raveena Tandon Thadani speaks about her new woman-centric film ‘Maatr’. #SAVVY#SAVVYCoverWoman#raveenaTandonThadani#raveenatandon#bollywood#actress#MAATR#woman-centric#beautiful#strong#boldandbeautiful#inspiration#instagood#instagupload#likeforlike#followforfollow#instalike#hindi#movie

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Pianos are one of the grandest musical instruments that one can own. Pianos not only have great musical value and add true peace and tranquillity to music but also increase the quality of your singing. Those who have already started learning to play the piano and are on the verge of buying one for themselves are, more often than not, confused about making a decision on which one to buy and what things to consider while purchasing it.

There are numerous options available in the market and it becomes really confusing when it comes to choosing the right one for you. Piano offers on Amazon and other such websites too make it easier to make a decision where budget is considered. While making your purchase decision these few below mentioned factors needs to be considered.

Quality is the main key

A piano is judged from both the interior and exterior of the instrument. The performance of the instrument grossly depends on the overall quality of it from within. A visibly improved resonance and range will be noticed in a piano that possesses high quality strings and soundboard. The tuning ability of the instrument also helps you to understand and gauge the longevity of the piano.

The exterior of a piano is equally important to consider while buying one because even good quality soundboard or strings can be affected and in turn affect the sound negatively if the exterior has a poor quality cabinet. To buy a piano of better quality in every aspect, you need to be very sure about both the interior and exterior of the piano. A piano is also graded depending on the quality of the instrument from interior to exterior. A Grade 1 piano is marked as a best quality piano in every sense.

Size matters too

As we know bigger is better, it is the same with pianos as well. The larger the size of the piano, the better will be the sound quality. This is due to smoother and softer sounds produced by longer strings of the piano by the transitioning action of the registers. It is always good to buy a bigger piano for its better quality sound but in this case you need to consider the place where you need the piano to be placed at your home. You should consider the size of your room before buying a piano as the acoustics of the piano gets highly impacted by the size of the room. If you have space limitations you may also look for full sized keyboards that have weighty keys.

Budget has to be laid out

Quality and size of the instrument actually determines the price of a piano. If you are looking for a good quality piano you should not be reluctant in spending some extra bucks because a good quality, costly piano is more durable and long lasting. Though, those with smaller budget also have quite a number of options in the less costly pianos. Buying a used piano is sometimes a good deal but in that case you need to thoroughly check the condition of the instrument by a technician.

Appearance is also an asset

Though not a very important point for some, appearances do matter for many while purchasing a piano as this is one instrument that sets a statement at home. But for most, the appearance of the piano may not be of importance as a criterion. Pianos are available in a number of varieties and colours out of which black and mahogany are very popular and mostly preferred.

Source – zen.info

Purpose is to be defined

When you are about to buy a piano for you, you must well understand the purpose for which you are required to buy one. Are you looking for a piano to learn it as a hobby or pass time or you want to take this as a long term interest and want to do something serious out of the learning? If you are a learner and are unsure about how committed you are to learning a piano then you may go for a medium sized piano which is of a less budget and good for beginners as well.

Our Special Checklist for You

Here are some basic things and crisp features in a piano that you should consider checking while buying one for you.

1. The post and the back of the piano should be strong so that it could provide good support to the entire instrument as this is a heavy musical instrument.

2. The soundboard is the most vital part of the piano which is placed at the back of the instrument and helps in translating the string vibrations into the soothing tone of the piano. So, checking the soundboard is essential as a cracked one would turn the sounds unappealing.

3. Treble and bass bridges are also very crucial in a piano. This is also required to be checked for cracks around the pins as it helps in the transfer of the vibrations of the strings.

4. There are generally three pedals but most pianists need only two. The Pedals should be checked to see if they move freely and quietly.

5. Finally, you should look at the piano’s serial number as this is one most important thing that lets you know about the age of the instrument easily.

The End Note

If you want your ward to continue learning a piano and take it up as a special interest, then you must certainly buy one for him/her, keeping these few tips in mind. Along with these tips, make sure you also look for discounts on musical instruments online. And while you’re at it, why not learn it yourself too?

There have been too many problems on the sets of Padmavati. Sometimes politics mixed with history, other times, it was just destiny playing truant. Sumita Chakraborty finds out the immense feat behind mounting a grand film like Padmavati.

Every historical film in Bollywood has a ‘behind-the-scenes’ tale to say. Just like in the days of yore when the tales depicted love, hate, anger or angst, the ‘making’ of these kind of films too have its own share of emotions – whether you’re talking about the cinematic landmark film Mughal-e-Azam to the more topical Padmavati. Mughal-e-Azam took years to make simply because of the many logistic problems, and Padmavati too seems to be following in its footsteps.

Indeed, from the time renowned director Sanjay Leela Bhansali decided to start his magnum opus Padmavati, his path has been strewn with thorns.

Woes Galore

Image credits – bollywoodlife.com

• First he had a tussle with his protégé Ranveer Singh about the length and the depth of his role… If you remember Alauddin Khiljee in history was a marauder. And no hero in Bollywood likes playing a full-blown villain. Yes, grey characters are challenging according to them but not a coal black sordid villain. But Bhansali convinced his hero and the film started albeit on a snail’s pace. The shooting that took place was elaborate yet slow as the director, as everyone knows, is a perfectionist and looks into every detail with an eagle eye.

• Then Bhansali, after a lot of deliberation, zeroed in on the third character, and Shahid Kapoor was finalised. Another perfectionist, he too got into his character like a second skin.

• The beauteous Deepika Padukone remained the director’s first and last choice to essay the title role of Padmavati. Amazingly gorgeous, this actress is indeed perfect for the role of Rani Padmavati who was not only beautiful but also spunky.

Filmi Probs

And then the film started rolling though not very smoothly. As it is, it was a bumpy ride from the beginning and the rest of the journey became bumpier as the shooting commenced.

• First during the shoot, a painter fell to his death while mounting one of the film’s grandiose sets. The untimely accidental death of one of their own caused a lot of grief amongst the unit hands. But somehow, the shooting continued.

Politics & The Film

• But there were more tremors in store for the great director. At the Rajasthan shooting schedule, the Karni Sena disrupted the shoot by breaking the sets, vandalising the property and blackening the famed Bhansali’s face. Suddenly there was an ugly potpourri of history and politics. And the result was sheer pandemonium. The shooting was disrupted immediately and the stars returned to Mumbai without completing the schedule.

• Of course, the incident left a bad taste in everybody’s mouth. Bollywood came together as one to condemn the attack. Most of the stars from Deepika to Rishi Kapoor tweeted condemning the incident as distasteful and wrong. Sushant Singh Rajput even went one step further – he said he’d drop the Rajput tag with his name simply because of the incident.

• The Karni Sena insisted that they wanted the director Sanjay Leela Bhansali to just tell them that he would be portraying history right in Padmavati as they had heard that he was making “a love story about Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji”, which is a distortion of history. And since the director didn’t pay heed, they resorted to this violence. The director, insiders proclaimed, is a very responsible man and he wouldn’t think of distorting history. And perhaps the Karni Sena could just sit and discuss this with him instead of resorting to this kind of behaviour.

• Not content with these woes, destiny had some more thorns to add to Bhansali’s cup of woes. The sets in Kolhapur too were vandalised and set on fire and again the schedule was cancelled.

• Poor Bhansali however refused to give up. And still despite the many ignominies, the shootings continued.

• Deepika, a perfectionist herself, was also seen visiting Rajasthan to get the feel of her character. While the other two heroes were seen getting their look right.

…Shooting a period or historic film is not a simple thing, there are a lot of details that need to be looked into. More so as history can have a lot of contradictory views so one is not very clear which view to follow and by doing so, not displease the other. But Bhansali and his legion of researchers claim that they have hit on the right note and he will stick to the right version of History.

So for all the naysayers – perhaps the exuberant Ranveer Singh may not get a chance to romance his rumoured girlfriend Deepika as History deemed it blasphemous but the show will go on. Whatever it may be, we hope for the sake of good cinema, Padmavati ends up becoming as grand as Bhansali’s other magnum opus. And also as acclaimed and perfect!