Weekends....

Hello!

See. I did three notable things last weekend: 

1) I finished reading 'book.' Units: one.

2) I saw 'movie.' Units: two.

3) I got my hair straightened ('Bio-straightened' as Mayo puts it) 

Seeing as the third one has to do with my appearance, this post will be dedicated to my hair appointment (I'll review the book and movies in subsequent posts.)

For a while now, I've been wondering whether to straighten my hair or not.  [Hey! For a woman, it's an important decision, alright?] There were people who told me 'Your hair will look like straw' (thank you, Maya and Varsha) or 'If you straighten your hair, I will tie you up in the straightened hair and present you to the Spartans on a spear.' There were also people who told me I'll look tolerable. So there was only one way to find out, wasn't there? * (The asterisk means there is a footnote)

So, there I was. At the parlor at around 4 p.m. on Sunday. There was no one else there, and there were two women who looked like they'd rather be frolicking on the beaches of Puerto Rico. I told the woman what I want, I did not quite take to the conspiring look she gave her companion.

Anyway, I tried to look like 'I've done this a zillion times before. I know how it goes.' But I guess they kinda understood when I asked in the middle of the procedure 'Can I go and get some coffee?' and they said 'Can you please NOT move your head?' On the whole, I think I handled the whole '4 hour hair-pulling, combing, yanking, sizzling (at some points)' session quite well. Here is a brief 'summary' of what I did (mind you, not they) at the various stages of the procedure. You will know why I am a delight to style. 

1) Stage 1 (Hair wash): I went to sleep. 

2) Stage 2 (Hair straightening using an electric straightener): I kept shrinking away from it. So my roots are not what you would call ramrod straight.

3) Stage 3 (Hair straightening using strips of plastic with chemical on it): This took an hour. To while my time, I 'organized' a 'race' between the woman working on the right side of my head against the woman on the left. The woman on the left won, but the woman on the right did not appreciate my comments like 'Buck up!' or 'You can do it!' ** (see footnote. Did I not tell you what these star thingies meant?!) 

4) Stage 4 (40 min wait): I ignored the glares from 'woman on the right' and instead focused on talking to S who I insisted on inviting to the parlor :D. He thought I was joking. So did the women actually, come to think of it...Hmmm...

5) Stage 5 (Hair wash YAY!): Refer to 'Stage 1' above.

6) Stage 6 (Dumping of some other chemical on head accompanied by vigorous brushing of hair): See I thought Stage 5 was the last. So I was taken aback and started accusing 'woman on the right' of making up extra stages. [errrr..]

7) Stage 7 (15 min wait): I sulked.

8) Stage 8 (Hair wash and set): The triumph of the... of the... well, of the me!

With all of it behind me, I look sexy! (So what if it is just me who thinks so?) When I come out of the bath now, I can tilt my head and towel my hair like Hindi film heroines. And NOT look like a bristling porcupine in the process. 

So, you let me know what you think of my new look. OK? And coming up in the next episode.... Book review. :D

Footnotes:

* [ This is also how you will find the problems of your life. there will be people who tell you this is right, and others who tell you it is not. When it comes to you, you will have to try it and see for yourself. No other way. Kind of like face foundation ... or lingerie. Don't waste your life thinking whether or not a bikini will suit you. ]

** Around this time, I also asked for the coffee. :D

Monday blues...

Hello Monday! :)

Back in office after the eventful (NOT!) weekend. I did see a movie though - Jaane tu ya jaane na. Hindi - romance/comedy. I think you should know this about me (if you don't already, you should talk to me more.... really!) - I am a huge movie buff. Movies for me is an experience. Not for me your dvds/cds/online versions (you pirates!). I love going to the theater and watching it with real people around me. People who watch movies at home, or wait for it to 'premier' on television, are escapists. Me? I need the challenge of making it to the movie on time (hey, it's difficult! ok?), I need to see the opening credits rolling over my head, feel every thump of the music (digital surround sound, hurray), I need the intermission to contemplate on how the movie is 'so far', I need the popcorn, the coffee/pepsi, I need to smile at the couple with the cute baby, need to observe people, note their reactions to the movie, have a 'SRK rocks, Aamir sucks' kinda conversation. 

So, here's my take on 'Jaane tu ya jaane na.' - youthful, breezy, and real. 

The story is nothing new. Haven't we seen this before? Two friends - inseparable.. they fight, they make up, they laugh, they cry. The whole world, including all the cats and mice in it, know they are perfect each other except the protagonists themselves. And we have the indispensable other girlfriend, other boyfriend (for symmetry), the 'omg, i love her/him moment' and the ubiquitous 'airport scene' in the end. (OMG, guess what the airports should ACTUALLY place tax on?.. the next gudda-guddi in love who disrupt the procedures)

Anyway, I liked the movie because of the way the director has handled it. He didn't have much to work with, but he did well with what he had. Here's what to watch out for: 

• Imran Khan and Genelia - The chemistry crackles. QSQT revisited (almost). Genelia is a little measured with the diction but she manages to pack a punch. Imran Khan is cute (does he shave yet?) and thankfully, does NOT shamelessly imitate Aamir Khan. He actually does a very restrained and original job. Observe especially his interactions with his mother, Ratna Pathak Shah and with Genelia of course.
• The talking Ranjod ke Rathod portrait (Naseeruddin Shah)
• Jai has just neglected to attend Aditi's birthday in favor of going to his girlfriend's house. He comes to wish her and meets her brother instead. The story could have segued into a 'ah! now you come' lecture. But the director instead makes the hero and brother run around after a tiny mouse. 
• The treatment of heavy-duty stuff. For example, when Jai visits his girlfriend's house and senses the tension between her parents. His expressions are priceless. 
  
• The songs, especially 'Kahin tho hogi'. You have to listen to it a couple of times to like it. But then, all AR Rahman songs are like that. This one's a gem and succeeds in building a melancholy imagery of unreachable love.

Also, here's the official review of the movie. My rating is 'Go watch it!'