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Shaadi Ke Side Effects Review

Shaadi-Ke-Side-Effects-PosterThe unfeigned laughs, Vidya and Farhan and mostly the indelible realism that conjures up the crux of the story.

In over two and half hours, the film manages to to patch up its hovels and vindicate the negatives quite effortlessly. Goes without saying that Saket quite succeeds in sending us home with many heartfelt laughs and an extensively enjoyable time. For slumps and hiccups there were many inconsistent elements including a few flat tracks and a dull second half, but the pulsating chemistry of VidyaBalan and FarhanAkhtar makes this one a hard to miss indulgence of sorts!

FarhanAkhtar picks up a role perhaps quite different from what he seems to be and plays it to perfection in every frame. It is quite a challenge for an actor to master what isn’t his forte and Farhan is genuinely flawless in this role.

VidyaBalan’s irresistible enigma is what lures me about her. She makes even the nagging Trisha endearing and only an actress of her caliber can bring so many hues to a character which has the maximum risk of getting termed as caricature. She compliments Farhan by bringing on screen a potently refreshing chemistry at our disposal which holds through the screenplay even in its slack bits.
Ram Kapoor, RatiAgnihotri, IlaArun and mostly Vir Das are all incorrigibly wasted. It takes some caliber to waste someone who possesses VirDas’ prowess and the filmmaker does lamentably manage that.

I never feel the need to justify my ratings and reviews but this time I feel I owe to this film and my readers. Frankly, I love the first half of the film. It was gripping and taut, though unoriginal, I thought it was magnificently done. The vivid and sparkling chemistry of Vidya and Farhan manage to hold you through tight and still. However, in the second half, the film begins a journey downhill, slipping vigorously slide by slide, getting schmaltzy quite unjustifiably. But in the end it still manages to deliver a product that is overall a surprising winner of sorts. Hence I am going with a lenient 3/5 for this film that deteriorates into settling for being average in the second half but for the stellar first hour cannot be missed. Hopefully Saket’s next is something more cleverly coherent and mostly consistent without getting convoluted . Till then keep your expectations low and give this one a chance to entertain you!

Ranveer Singh, Deepika not finalised for ‘Shuddhi’: Karan Johar

Karan-JoharFilmmaker Karan Johar has denied reports of signing DeepikaPadukone and Ranveer Singh for his most talked about project Shuddhi.

The film initially had HrithikRoshan and KareenaKapoor Khan in the lead, but later both of them walked out of the project.

There were reports that Ranveer and Deepika might replace Hrithik and Kareena in the film.

When asked if Ranveer and Deepika would be doing Shuddhi, Karan said, “No they are not finalised.”

He refused to divulge any further details.

A few days back Karan had announced that Shuddhi will release in 2015 and the star cast will be finalised soon.

The film got postponed due to Hrithik’s health. But, later the actor surprised everyone by saying he won’t be doing it. Kareena too bowed out of the project since it was getting delayed.

Rajnikanth faced awkward moments while shooting romantic scenes with DeepikaPadukone for ‘Kochadaiyaan’

rajinikanth-deepikaSuperstar Rajnikanth may have romanced many heroines onscreen with much ease but he did face awkward moments shooting for his daughter Soundarya’s debut directorial venture ‘Kochadaiyaan’, the filmmaker revealed on Friday.

“He felt very awkward during romance scenes with Deepika Padukone (the film’s heroine) with me saying ‘action’ and ‘cut’,” Soundarya Rajnikanth Ashwin told reporters here announcing a tie-up with mobile maker Karbonn.

While Rajnikanth as “appa” (father) was very protective, “he was very very professional” as an actor and this was very much evident during the making of the movie, being completely shot on motion-capture technology, she said.

The superstar supported her like most new directors, she said while recalling her experience directing him.

Asked if she would direct her father in another film, she said she would be happy to do so.
“I feel blessed and grateful to direct him. If God is kind enough, I shall direct another film” with Rajnikanth, she said.

The “high-budget” film had been missing its earlier release schedule due to the ongoing technical processes in the making of the movie, she said adding the audio launch would be held here on March 9.
She said she will announce the final release date later.

Julianne Moore showed ‘different kinds of boobs’ to daughter at naked spa

Julianne-Moore_3Julianne Moore has confessed that she showed her daughter “different kinds of boobs” on their outing to a naked spa.

The 53-year-old actress told Chelsea Lately that her 11-years-old daughter Liv loves to go to spas, so when they were in a female only room, where everyone was naked, she got to see different kinds of bodies, reportedly.

`The Kids Are Alright` star said that her daughter expressed surprise over the fact there are so many different kinds of boobs, like “big, little, round and pointy”.

Kourtney Kardashian isn’t fan of first dates

kourtney-kardashianKourtney Kardashian has confessed that she is not a fan of first dates.

During an interview with Eye on Glam, the 34-year-old said that she finds first dates “awkward”, as she thinks a casual and fun first date with friends is much more fun than a one-on-one typical first date, leading magazine reported.

Kardashian, who has been dating longtime love Scott Disick since 2006, said that she prefers date nights that aren`t “stuffy and fancy-shmancy.”.

Katy Perry says Russell Brand wanted kids ‘ to control her’

Katy-Perry-Hot Katy Perry has revealed that her former husband Russell Brand wanted to have kids so that he could control her.

The `Roar` hitmaker told a leading magazine that though the comedian wanted children, she wasn`t ready to make such sacrifices, reportedly.

The 29-year-old singer said that when she decides to have a family, she just wants to be a mom for a little bit, but when Brand wanted to have children she wasn`t ready.

It was recently reported that Perry and her fiance John Mayer reportedly split.

Parker surprised by cruel language used by women nowadays

actress-Sarah-Jessica-ParkerActress Sarah Jessica Parker says she is surprised by the cruel and foul language some of the women use nowadays in order to make their point.

The 48-year-old actress feels that she shared a friendly relationship with her female co-stars of her `Sex and the City` show, reported a magazine.

“It`s kind of surprising to say, but in a way (Sex and the City) was a more innocent time. I think so much reality television ?and the women that dominate culture today ? Are pretty unfriendly towards one another,” Parker said.

“They use language that`s really objectionable and cruel and not supportive. I like to remember that Carrie and the other women in `Sex and the City` were really nice to each other,” she added.

Like many actresses, Parker too refrains from googling herself.
“I don`t Google myself. Good God, no! I have absolutely no constitution for that. I`m curious about everything, except what people have to say about me,” she said.

“It`s the random cruelty I really don`t understand. It`s not good for us. I don`t know, you know, how we go back in time to a better place,” she added.

Will Congress score a hat-trick in South Central Mumbai?

If we leave Vidyadhar Gokhale, Narayan Athawale, Dr. Manohar Joshi, RPI’s Ramdas Athawale (with Congress backing), Pramila Dandavate of Janata Dal, Ahilya Rangnekar of Communist Party then Congress party has strong hold in South Central Mumbai constituency. Once again, the Congress sitting MP Eknath Gaikwad is trying hard to file his nomination for the Lok Sabha Election but senior members are in favour of issuing ticket to former vice Chancellor of Mumbai University and Rajya Sabha member Dr. Bhalchandra Mungekar. In this constituency, competition will intensify as Shiv Sena has issued ticket to Rahul Shewale, Standing Committee Chairman in Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai as its candidate whereas the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is planning to send Aditya Shirodkar to Lok Sabha. If Congress issues a ticket to Mungekar then Gaikwad won’t be able to complete a hat-trick. A clear picture will emerge only after the Congress party releases the list of its candidates.

During the 1999 general election when Manohar Joshi was elected as representative of this constituency people started saying that it will become a forte of the Shiv Sena. When the 2004 General election was announced Joshi became the Lok Sabha Speaker. Nobody was willing to fight against Dr. Joshi. At the last moment, Congress decided to file the nomination of Eknath Gaikwad the then Congress MLA from Dharavi. To everyone’s surprise, people of South Central constituency sent him to parliament as their representative. In 2009 general election, the Congress decided nominated Gaikwad from same constituency once again and he emerged victorious. This time he defeated Shiv Sena’s candidate Suresh Gambhir. Once again, Gaikwad is ready to contest election, but some senior leaders are opposing him and want tickets to be alloted to Mungekar, a learner and highly educated candidate. Thus Congress can score a hat-trick in the constituency. The decision might be taken at the last moment to avoid any infighting within the party.

Shiv Sena candidate Rahul Shewale, an engineer by profession and is one of the close lieutenants of Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray. Former Chief Minister and Lok Sabha Speaker, Manohar Joshi was trying hard to get the nod from the high command for contesting from this constituency but Thackeray has turned a blind eye towards him. When Joshi thought that party will not hear him then in one of the public rally, he openly revolted against his party’s senior leaders. After he revolted against the seniors, party has decided to sideline him. Even he thought that the party will field him for the Rajya Sabha once again after the conclusion of his tenure, but Shiv Sena has zeroed in on other leader.

Six assembly seats fall under the South Central Mumbai Parliamentary Constituency. Out of these six constituencies four the Congress party has bagged four seats while MNS and NCP have one seat. Jagannath Shetty (Sion – Koliwada), Chandrakant Handore (Chembur), Varsha Gaikwad (Dharavi) and Kalidas Kodambakar are Congress MLAs whereas Nawab Malik NCP MLA from (Anushakti Nagar) and MNS ‘s Nitin Sardesai is an MLA from Mahim. Thus the Congress position is a bit stronger in this constituency.

Dalits form a major chunk of voters in this area. Both Gaikwad and Mungekar belong to this community.

So, Congress leaders feel that Mungekar will be strong contender this time. In the last general election, MNS candidate Shweta Parulekar has gained more than one lakh votes which enabled the Congress to retain the seat. This time also, it is assumed that if MNS gain more than one lakh votes then it will be a smooth ride for Congress. AAP is yet to declare its candidate from this constituency. If the AAP candidate grabs 50,000 votes then it would prove to be a setback for the Congress.

South Central Mumbai 2009
Eknath Gaikwad (Congress) – 2, 57, 523
Suresh Gambhir (Shiv Sena) – 1, 81,817
Shweta Parulekar (MNS) – 1, 08, 341
Pravin Barve (BSP) – 18, 427

Parvez Khan

Political lollypop and candies distributed

dharaviIn an election year the Democratic Front government is in a hurry to dole out several poll sops to lure voters. The state government has approved a proposal to legalise slums which have been constructed in Mumbai till the year 2000. This decision is expected to benefit 4.5 lakh households and about 15 lakh slum dwellers.

The government is going ahead with the decision even though this matter is pending with the Supreme Court. According to a senior minister the government is planning to amend the Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act with immediate effect. The proposal to regularise the slums which have come up between 1995 to 2000 was included in the government’s 2009 poll manifesto.

Diwakar Raote, Shiv Sena MLA said it’s a politically motivated decision. He said, “Since the Lok Sabha election is just round the corner hence the party had taken a decision to regularise the slums which have come up between 1995 to 2000. It is a ploy of the government to garner slum votes.”

Shaina NC, BJP leader said that the state government is indulging in vote bank politics. She said, “It was merely a political lollypop for the voters. With an eye to on the upcoming election the state government is trying to lure slum voters by announcing this policy.”

There was immense pressure on Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to clear this proposal. Party leaders insist that this decision will pave way for a slum-free Mumbai. Minority affairs minister Arif Naseem Khan, who is also the guardian minister of Mumbai suburbs, said that he has been pursuing the issue for many years, as it will help in making the island city slum-free.
When AV contacted Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, MLA Pravin Darekar, he refused to comment about this issue and said, “I don’t want to speak about this matter. MNS Chief Raj Thackeray will be the right person to comment about this issue.”
Social activist and AAP leader Medha Patkar dubbed the decision of Maharashtra government to regularise slums built till 2000 as an “election gimmick” mocking the poor people in the city.

“The Congress-NCP coalition had fought three elections on the poll promise of homes to slum dwellers but had failed to act on it for more than a decade,” Patkar added.

In a landmark judgement in 2006, the Bombay High court had set the cut-off date as January 1, 1995 and had slammed the government saying, “The answer to encroachment on public lands is not legalising further encroachment…no nation, no state or the rule of law can survive if illegalities are continuously legalised in the guise of social obligation. The state which has a constitutional duty to protect all the citizens cannot wear the mantle of Robinhood, by depriving the tax payer of his right by protecting and rewarding law breakers.”

In order to avoid any legal hassles the government is likely to extend the pre-election dole through a Bill. The cabinet decision, sources confirmed, will be announced in the on-going Assembly session.

The cut off dates have been repeatedly advanced since 1975. First the Congress pushed it to 1980 and then 1985, then the Shiv Sena-BJP regime advanced it by 10 years.

After this decision, there is a possibility that prices of slums will increase manifold in the metropolis.

Two officers died in fire on board submarine INS Sindhuratna, confirms navy

INS-Sindhuratna-submarineTwo officers who were missing since the fire on board submarine INS Sindhuratna on Wednesday have died, the navy confirmed. Their bodies were found after the submarine was brought back to the Mumbai coast this morning.

Navy Chief Admiral DK Joshi resigned taking moral responsibility for accidents on his watch.

The navy said Lieutenant Commander Kapish Muwal and Lieutenant Manoranjan Kumar died in the INS Sindhuratna fire. They had been declared missing yesterday after the accident in which seven sailors were injured. Their bodies were found in a submarine compartment.

Reports suggest the fire that broke out in the 25-year-old submarine could be due to malfunctioning batteries. The submarine was being sea tested after a refit; its batteries were reportedly not replaced because contracts were not finalised in time.
Seven sailors fell unconscious from suffocation while trying to control the fire and smoke and had to be airlifted to a Navy hospital in Mumbai. The submarine surfaced after the smoke was detected.

The Russian-origin Kilo Class submarine, one of India’s 14 conventional submarines, was carrying no weapons or ammunition. It had sailed out on Tuesday night and since it was still being tested, had not been placed under operational command yet.
Admiral DK Joshi resigned as Navy Chief hours after the accident. “It was my decision. I only consulted my wife,” he told a gathering of naval officers in Delhi today.

Defence Minister AK Antony, who has been criticised for accepting his resignation said, “I am very sad about the incident. Joshi came to me. He was very disturbed about the whole development. He said he would like to take responsibility and insisted that I accept his resignation. So I consulted everybody and the Prime Minister and ultimately took a decision to accept it.”

Former defence officers and experts say the minister should also resign.”Admiral Joshi has held himself to the highest standards of public morality. Mr Antony had the option to tell him not to go,” said strategic expert Admiral Raja Menon.
The government faces a dilemma over a successor for Admiral Joshi, who is the first military chief to resign. Vice Admiral Robin K Dhowan, who has been appointed as acting Naval Chief, is not the seniormost Naval officer after Admiral Joshi’s resignation. Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, currently the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, based in Mumbai, is senior to Vice Admiral Dhowan.

The Sindhuratna fire was the 10th accident involving an Indian Navy asset and the third submarine accident in the last seven months. In August last year, Navy submarine INS Sindhurakshak sank in the Mumbai harbour after an explosion on board, killing 18 sailors. (Navy hopeful of reusing INS Sindhurakshak)
Earlier this month, an amphibious warfare vessel INS Airavat ran aground after which its commanding officer was stripped of his command duties.