Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 470

It is Super Rekha

31/10/2014

Maruti International produced aur Indra Kumar directed Super Naani kahani hain Bharti Bhatia ki, jisne apna pura jeevan, apne pariwar ko samarpit kiya.

Dekhne mein Bharti ki zindagi mein koi kummi nahi hain – kamyab pati, 3 bachche aur alishaan ghar.  

Magar kummi hain. Bharti ke pati RK Bhatia aur unke bachche, har roz, kissi baat par, Bharti ko tokte hain, nazar andaaz karte hain.

Phir ek din, naani ka navasa Sharman Joshi, apne naunihal aata hain aur naani ka swabhimaan lautata hain.

Film ka sabse bada problem weak screenplay aur conflicting characterizations hain.

Jab Bharti jaahil nahi hain, toh uska pariwar Bharti ki beizzati kyon karte hain? Jab bachce baad mein, maa ki kadar karte hain, toh sulah ki wajah itni swaarthi kyon hain?

Film ka khayal nek hain magar pesh karne ka tarika sadiyon purana.

Director Indra Kumar maa ki prashansa karna chahte hain magar Randhir Kapoor ka aakhri dialogue auraton ke liye apman janak hain!

Nayi ladki Shweta Kumar sundar hain, Sharman Joshi competent, Rekha, kirdaar ke hisab se, first half mein over-made up aur second half mein subhanallah!

Super Naani ko sirf Rekha ke liye Big Entertainment Ratings milte hai 2.5 stars.

Bhawana Somaaya/ @bhawanasomaaya 

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All rounder Annu Kapoor

30/10/2014

Annu Kapoor visible in Antakshari on television and omnipresent on 927BigFM radio has been missing in the promotions of his forthcoming film Badlapur Boys.  Producer Satish Pilangwad said it’s impossible to get Annu Kapoor’s dates as he is active on all the mediums of entertainment be it radio/ TV/ films. On 7 November will see the release of two Annu Kapoor films The Shaukeens and Badlapur Boys which is based on the spirit of  a game called Kabaddi. In which case why did they invite Dharmendra for the music release, it should have been Abhishek Bachchan.

Bhawana Somaaya/ @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 468

Ajay Devgn sheds 17 kilos

29/10/2014

The trailer of Action Jackson has received tremendous response for the martial arts sequence where Ajay Devgn is seen in a chiseled physique for which the actor has lost a staggering 17 kilos only so that he makes the right impact in the sword fighting action scenes in the flick. followed with a regular exercise regime and backed by a strict diet of eggs and boiled vegetables, the actor was able to accomplish this by creating a special gym in his vanity van. This is called true dedication. 

Bhawana Somaaya/ @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 467

Silence is Golden

28/10/2014

Dadi Janki of Bhramha Kumari says one who is spiritual is accurate and accomplishes everything on time.  The evolved stay quiet and peaceful within and they pay attention and to always remain tension free. What you speak transforms into action, recurrent action becomes a pattern of behaviour and inadvertently, your karmic cycle.

When you remain silent, you are more aware, you reflect and you go inward. In silence you question your roots, your goal and your identity! Dadi Janki asks to connect to Shiv Baba as a soul and seek him as a spiritual companion.

BhawanaSomaaya/ Tweets: @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 466

Narendra Modi woos Bollywood.

27/10/2014

Mukesh and Nita Ambani had invited the who’s who of the film fraternity to meet new PM Narendra Modi at the launch of Reliance Foundation Hospital in Girgaum and everybody was there in full attendance. Of the many present were Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan.

Inclusion of Saif Kareena in the VIP guest list is particularly interesting because Saif’s mother Sharmila Tagore is a Congress person and this was evident in full attendance of the party at Saif Kareena reception in Delhi, infact that is where I met Rahul Gandhi and introduced him to the bride’s father, Randhir Kapoor.

Bhawana Somaaya/ @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 465

New Year Not Happy.

25/10/2014

Red Chillies produced aur Farah Khan directed Happy New Year kahani hain 6 kirdaron ki, jo World Dance Competition mein hissa lete hain, magar unka iraada hain chori!

Charlie, yaane Shah Rukh Khan team ke captain hain aur zyadatar Hindi film heroes ki tarha, Charlie ka mission bhi badla hain!

Mohini, yaane Deepika Padukone bar dancer hain aur uska sapna Dance School khol ke izzat kamana hain.

Nandu, Abhishek Bachchan maa ka operation karana chahte hain. Tammy, Boman Irani, thodi der ke liye hi sahi, maa se bhaagna chahte hain.

Jag, Sonu Sood maa ke naam se bhavuk ho jaate hain aur Rohan, Vivaan Shah, ka duniya mein koi nahi hain isliye wo har pal ka maza lete hain.

Film ka pehla ghanta – ye 6 kirdaar aur villan Grover, Jackie Shroff ko introduce karane mein jaata hain.

Film ka doosra ghanta – inn sab ki dance seekhne ki koshish mein zaaya hota hain.

Baaki ka samay, Shalimar heere ki chori ke rehearsals mein vyarth kiye jaate hain.

Kehne ko film mein dher saara paisa istmaal kiya gaya hai - Dubai ki alishan imaartein, lavish hotels, swimming pool, bageeche, rang birangi costumes, sets, crowds, helicopters, magar sab kuch jhootha, khokla, bina matlab ke.

3 writers ne milkar likhi ye kahani  purani aur kirdaar baasi hain.

Mana ki fantasy filmon mein hume logic/ vastavikta/ sandesh ki umeed nahi rakh ni chahiye

Magar immandari ki, neeyat ki, manoranjan ki umeed toh rakh hi sakte hain.

Happy New Year senseless scenes aur dialogues ka ek circus hain.

Isme na dil hain, na na rooh na connection hain, na conviction.

Happy New Year ko sirf Deepika Padukone ke liye Big Entertainment ratings milte hain 2 stars.  

Tweets - @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 464

Happy New Year
24/10/2014

Tweets: @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 463

Happy Diwali
23/10/2014

Tweets:@bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 462

Diwali Week: ROOP Chaturdashi
22/10/2014

Tweets: @bhawanasomaaya

The rituals of Kali Choudas is strongly suggestive of the origin of Diwali as a harvest festival is performed. On this day delicacies are prepared from pounded semi-cooked rice (called Poha or Pova). This rice is taken from the fresh harvest available at that time. This custom is prevalent both in rural and urban areas especially in Western India.

On this day, a head wash and application of kajal in the eyes is believed to keep away the kali nazar (evil eye). Some say that those who are into tantra, learn their 'mantras' on this day. Alternatively, people offer Nivet is local to where they are originally from. This goddess is called their Kul Devi, in order to cast off evil spirits. Some families also offer food to their forefathers on this day. The second day of Diwali is known as Kali Choudas in Gujarat, Rajasthan & few part of Maharashtra.

On this day Hindus get up earlier than usual. The men will rub their bodies in perfumed oils before bathing. Afterwards, clean clothes are worn; some people wear new ones. A large breakfast is enjoyed with relatives and friends. In the evening, a mix of bright and loud fireworks are set off in an atmosphere of joyful fun and noise. Special sweet dishes are served as part of the midday meal. House are lit with oil lamps during the evening.

In Goa,on this day, paper-made effigies of Narakasura, filled with grass and firecrackers symbolising evil, are made.These effigies are burnt at around four o'clock in the morning the following day/ Firecrackers are burst, and people return home to take a scented oil bath. Lamps are lit in a line.The women of the house perform aarti of the men, gifts are exchanged, a bitter berry called kareet is crushed under the feet in token of killing Narkasur, symbolising evil and removal of ignorance. Different varieties of Poha and sweets are made and eaten with family and friends.

(Content Courtesy: Wikipedia.com)

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 461

Diwali Week: DHANTERAS
21/10/2014

Tweets: @bhawanasomaaya

The Legend:

A story about this day is of the sixteen year old son of King Hima. As per his horoscope he was doomed to die by a snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage. On that particular fourth day of his marriage his young wife did not allow him to sleep. She laid all the ornaments and lots of gold and silver coins in a big heap at the entrance of her husband's boudoir and lighted innumerable lamps all over the place. And she went on telling stories and singing songs. When Yam, the god of Death arrived there in the guise of a Serpent his eyes got blinded by that dazzle of those brilliant lights and he could not enter the Prince's chamber. So he climbed on top of the heap of the ornaments and coins and sat there whole night listening to the melodious songs. In the morning he quietly went away.

Thus the young wife saved her husband from the clutches of death. Since then this day of Dhanteras came to be known as the day of "YAMADEEPDAAN" and lamps are kept burning throughout the night in reverential adoration to Yam, the god of Death.

According to another popular legend, when the gods and demons churned the ocean for Amrit or nectar, Dhanavantri (the physician of the gods and an incarnation of Vishnu) emerged carrying a jar of the elixir on the day of Dhanteras.

(Story Courtesy: isamaj.com)

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 460

Diwali: Around the corner
20/10/2014

Let's go shopping!
Tweets: @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 459

Happy Ending

17/10/2014

Directed by Raj & DK Happy Ending is presented by Eros International and Produced by Illuminati films and is set to release on 21 November. The trailer of the film released a few days has created a flutter in the trade because of the extraordinary casting. Apparently the director duo was quite nervous when they had to direct a tricky scene with Govinda, says Raj “We were really nervous about directing Govinda because in one scene we needed to paint his body with a marker pen. Now this is a rather strange request to make to an actor and we are confused how to tell him so. When we finally did, he was astonished and took a long pause that kind of scared us but then happily agreed. Contrary to what we had estimated Govindaji was more than co-operative and we got a fantastic scene, infact I would say it is one of the highlights of the film” laughs Raj!

 I guess all’s well that has a happy ending.

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawanasomaaya

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Rekha celebrates birthday at 92.7BigFM
15/10/2014

(Courtesy: MidDay and The Free Press Journal)

Bhawana Somaaya / Tweets- @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 457

Odissi Festival

9/10/2014

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 456

Aquamarine for elegance

8/10/2014

Varun Raheja owner of the silver jewelry store Aquamarine in Mumbai is launching another store in Mumbai, this time in Bandra where the best of the designers from all over India will showcase their jewelry, from modern, contemporary to traditional, geometrical designs. What is interesting is that that Aquamarine will not showcase any original designs and instead outsource other designers from all over India.

Shaina Nath, daughter of well known filmmaker Rakesh Nath and writer Reema Nath is the brand consultant and has come up with a unique idea of co-ordinating a hard cover coffee table book for the launch of the store which is a part of the invite.

Titled Walks of Life the book features twelve achievers from different walks of life wearing jewelry of twelve top designers. Shot by the Vogue Photographer - Dwaipayan Mazumdar the coffee table book promises to be something special.

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 455

A Day in the life of Mumbai

7/10/2014

A month ago, a charming young boy Anil Sadrangani met me and convinced me to be a part of a film to be screened for the Manhattan Short Film Festival, an annual event organized by Vivanta Taj.

A day in the life of Mumbai shot through an experimental camera proved a delightful experience because I met four enterprising young boys, all experts in their fields.

First, Raconteur Dheeraj, who helped me, rediscovers the heritage of South Mumbai. Then Anil Sadrangani, journalist and marketing expert who is now the co-ordinator for Vivanta Group. Third, my director Stalin Massey, who began his career as a clapper boy in Sohail Khan Production’s De Taali became chief assistant director for Vivek Oberoi’s Prince, then chief assistant director in Anuragh Kashyap produced Shaitan and finally associate director with Pritish Nandy Communications’ Shaadi ke Side Effects.

Cinematographer Syed Tanveer Riyaz joined the film industry in 1999 as an apprentice cameraman with Vikas Shivraman in Sarfarosh. Tanveer worked on commercials such as Pepsi, Nakshatra diamond jewellery and numerous car brands. He has worked with best of ad world directors like Prahlad Kakkar, Subhir Chatterjee, Robert J, Ram Madhvani, Kailash Surendranath and others and also with mainstream movies like Bhoothnath, Ashiqui 2 and super hit Ek Villain.

Tanveer wrote and directed his first film Hum sab Ek Hain in 2001.

Thank you Dheeraj, Anil, Stalin, Tanveer for the terrific experience and wish you all the best for future.

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 454

Watch 'Haider' for Vishal Bharadwaj & 'Bang Bang' for Hrithik.

3/10/2014

Haider is Wow

Vishal Bharadwaj produced/ directed Haide, William Shakespear ki Hamlet ka adaptation hain.

Iske pehle, Vishal Bharadwaj ne Shakespear ki Macbeth ko Maqbool aur Othello ko Omkaara mein adapt kiya hain.

Ye Bharadwaj ki khaasiyat hain, ki wo har baar, purani kahani ko naye vatavaran mein sajaakar, usse naye tarike se pesh karte hain.

Maqbool Bhopal ki haveliyon ke baare mein thi Omkaara western UP ki galliyon ke baare mein aur Haider Kashmir ki vaadiyon mein bassi hain.

Sabse pehle ye kehna zaroori hain ki Haider behad khoobsurat, visually stunning hain!

Ye kahani hain saal 1995 ke militant Kashmir ki, jab jheelein barfeeli, aasman dhudla aur banjar pedh kathai nazar aata tha.

Cinematographer Pankaj Kumar, Kashmir ke badalte mausam, soonsaan sadak aur shikare ko  ek kirdaar ke taurpe pesh karte hain.

Haider bahtareen likhi gayin hain, khaas taurpe film ke dialogues jo teer ki tarha dil ko chubhte hain.

Kyon ki director, khud music composer bhi hain, Vishal Bharadwaj, melody ko jasbaadon ka ohda dete hain.

Interval ke baad film thodi bikharti hain, kuch editing ki wajah se aur kuch political issues par focus karne ki wajah se.   

Sabhi performances, Arshee ki bhumika mein Shradha Kapoor, Roohdar ki bhumika mein Irfaan Khan aur chacha ki bhumika mein Kay Kay Menon lajawab hain!

Shahid Kapoor  kabhi haule se aur kabhi shiddat se Haider ko jeete hain…

Magar sab se bahtareen hain Gazala yaane Tabu jisse aap theatre ke bahar nikal kar bhi nahi bhula paate…

Aur usss se bhi haseen hain, Shahid-Tabu ki outstanding chemistry!

Vishal Bharadwaj ki Haider anokhi hain, rassili hain… Ismein sangit hain, kavita hain, dard hain, khauff hain, junoon hain...

Haider agar nahi dekhi toh afsos reh jayega…

Haider ko Big Entertainment Ratings milte hain 4 stars.

Watch Bang Bang for Hrithik

Fox Star produced aur Siddharth Anand directed Bang Bang issi naam ki Hollywood film ka authorized Hindi remake hain.

Kahani wohi purani, chor police ki hain, sirf iss baar, sab ko talaash hain Kohinoor heere ki!

Jewel Thief Hrithik Roshan urff Rajveer Nanda, heere ke saath saath, heroine Herleen ka dil  churata hain…

Aur phir khulle aam, garam pakode khaate hue, beech sadak ghumta hain...

Kohinoor Rajveer ke paas hain, isliye Rajveer ke peeche villains hain, aur villains ke peeche police.

Bank receptionist Herleen, yaane Katrine Kaif, jo aaj tak, kabhi Shimla ke bahar nahi gayi hain, ab chor/police se bachne ke liye, Rajveer ke saath lapata hain.

Film ka plus film ki lavish mounting: ismein helicopters hain, water boats hain, racing bikes, islands, villas, gambling dens aur kabhi na khatam hone wala adventure!

Hrithik Roshan aur Katrina Kaif, kabhi helicopter se kudte hain, kabhi underwater jaate hain, kabhi bhaagti gaadiyon se chalang maarte hain, kabhi zabardast action karte hain aur kabhi, sapnon mein gaana gaate hain..!

Fim mein kmmi hain, toh sirf logic ki...Kohinoor heera kab aur kaise gayab hota hain, nahi malum….!

Itne saare villains milkar Rajveer ko kyon nahi pakad paate, nahi paata…!!

Hrithik aur Katrina duniya bhar mein bagair ticket/passport/visa kaise ghumte hain, nahi malum…!!!

Ye saari shortcomings ke bawajood Bang Bang dekhni chahiye, sirf aur sirf Hrithik Roshan ke liye…

Action ho ya romance, dance ho ya drama, aap ek second ke liye bhi, Hrithik Roshan se apni nazar aur dil hataa sakte aur ye dawwa nahi vaada hain...!!!!

Bang Bang ko sirf Hrithik Roshan ke liye Big Entertainment Ratings milte hain 3 stars.

Bhawana Somaaya / Twitter: @bhawanasomaaya

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Navratri Mahotsav Day 9

3/10/2014

Noam is dedicated to Devi Siddhidatri who has supernatural healing powers. She rides a lion and blesses all the Gods, the saints, the yogis, the tantriks and all her devotees as a manifestation of the Mother Goddess. As per the Devi Bhagvata Purana it is mentioned that even Lord Shiva had to worship her to be blessed with all siddhas (supernatural powers) and it is her boon to Mahadev that he is the only God who has the power to transform into an avtaar of Ardhnarishvara that is half male and half female body. The ninth day devi puja is called Maha Navvmi/ Kanya Puja and the colour of the Goddess for today is Purple.

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawnasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 452

Navratri Mahotsav Day 8

2/10/2014

Aatham is dedicated to Devi Maha Gauri whose power is unfailing and instantly fruitful. It is believed that worshipping her cures you of all your sins. According to the stories Gauri spent long, difficult years in the deep forests of the Himalayas praying to Shiva to accept him as his consort and turned tanned in the harsh sunlight. When Lord Shiva granted her darshan he showered her with Ganges which helped her regain her colour and beauty after which she came to be recognized as Maha Gauri, which mean extremely fair and which is the reason Goddess Gauri is always dressed in white. Maha Gauri has four arms and rides on a bull. Her one hand is in the pose of allaying fear, second holds a trident, the third holds a rattle drum and the fourth grants boons to her devotees. The eighth day devi puja is called Maha Ashttami/ Maha Durga/ Maha Saraswati  Puja and the colour of the Goddess for today is Orange.

ana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawnasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 451

Navratri Mahotsav Day 7

1/10/2014

Saatam is dedicated to Devi Kaal Ratri who is worshipped on the seventh day and is as dark as the night, her hair disheveled hair and is embodiment of fearlessness. She has three eyes, adorns a necklace flashing lightning and emanates flames from her breath. She rides a donkey, her right hand raised to grant boons to devotees and right lower hand in the pose of allaying fears. Her left upper hand holds a thorn-like weapon and lower left shows a dragger. She is black like Goddess Kali and frees us from troubles. So she is also known as Devi Shubhamkari – one who does auspicious. The seven day devi puja is called Maha Saptami and the colour of the Goddess for today is Pink.

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawnasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 450

Navratri Mahotsav Day 6

30/09/14

Chath is dedicated to Devi Durga also known as Devi Katyayani. Legend has it that a seer by the name of Kata went through long years of penance and austerity in order to receive a boon from Mother Goddess. He wished to father a virtuous daughter who was an incarnation of Maa Durga. It is said that the Goddess was so satisfied with Kata and his devotion that she promised to be reappear as his daughter and hence Katyayani was born to Kata as an avatar of Durga. The sixth day devi puja is called Maha Sashti and the colour of the Goddess for today is Royal Blue.

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawnasomaaya