Detective Byomkesh Bakshi, The worst Byomkesh Film I have seen.

I did not have too much expectation from Detective Byomkesh Bakshi movie. But I really didn't think it will be so bad!! Mr. Dibakar Banerjee owes us a public apology for ruining such a great literature character - Byomkesh Bakshi. Horrible script, more forced twists than the worst cheap thriller. Utterly failed attempt to make a hifi international level detective, gangster, world war (and god knows what else) movie. Saradindu Bandyopadhyay's spirit will be banging his head in heaven seeing this. I am utterly disappointed.

I request my friends to not see the movie at all, and even if u do, then don't see it as a Byomkesh Bakshi film. You better watch it as an independent thriller, then there might be a remote chance of liking it the tiniest little bit.

After watching Satyajit Ray’s Chiriyakhana, Basu Chatterjee’s Byomkesh Bakshi TV series, Anjan Dutta’s Byomkesh Trilogy, and other numerous Byomkesh adaptations for TV as well as big screen, level of expectations from any Byomkesh Bakshi movie, in the mind of a Bengali, is enormous. Dibakar Banerjee simply failed to live up to it.

FIFA World Cup 2014

Life was indeed becoming dull. Not a great many awesome movies in the recent past, cricket is like a monotonous pain in the soul being so frequent and so abundant. Indeed a great repetition of anything renders its value low and so low that one seeks a time off from even them.

It was in this monotonous life that one fine day the sun of interest and excitement shown. It was the second week of June 2014 and its football world cup time.

Every four years it comes once and fills my life with excitement and thrill for almost 5 weeks. I just love it. This is not just a tournament, its life. Like our life, it has moments of despair, excitement, laughter, enjoyment, gloom, monotony, disgrace, virtue, defeat and victory. The game is what dreams are made of and what life is built with.

Like other earlier world cups, this world cup had a great many interesting, thrilling as well as disappointing moments. Through my blog entry I’m just sharing a few remarkable and favourite moments which I feel, shall long last in my memory.

• An outstanding moment was in the first match itself when brazil saw the face of victory by virtue of amazing football skills exhibited by Neymar and Oscar against Croatia. Neymar scored 2 and Oscar scored 1. It was a brilliant game from the outstanding duo.

• The match of Italy Vs England was pretty one sided and my favourite team was victorious, so it was indeed special. Italy played like the boss and the match exhibited one of the best goals which actually resulted from a false attempt deliberately faked by the master play-maker Andre Pirlo.

• Fantastic hat-trick from the previous world cup’s golden boot owner Thomas Mueller against Portugal. It was an amazing match with an amazing outcome. Brilliance and aggression defined by the Germans. Even the great Christiano Ronaldo appeared so miserably helpless.

• Spain Vs Netherlands, the arch rivals from 2010 WC finals. An amazing match to witness and what a payback by Netherlands. The amazing header from Van Persie is nothing less than a wonder produced in this incredible tournament. Even the great Casillas couldn’t but witness the ball enters his goal helplessly.

• Messi got his first World Cup goal ever against Bosnia and Herzegovina and so did Rooney against Uruguay. Their ecstasy cannot be expressed in words. The images below say it all.

• Former world champions Spain were already out of the tournament having lost 2 in a row. But the ageing tiger wasn’t any less ferocious. David Villa’s amazing game against Australia was indeed a fitting farewell performance from the legend.

• Italy exits world cup in the very 1^st round. The first major disappointment for me this time. It was a shock. Perhaps the last time ever we are to see the likes of the great Buffon and Pirlo. The match against Uruguay was pretty square throughout with few fantastic saves by Buffon and excellent passes from Pirlo. But the later half witnessed blasphemy. Italy got red card for a nominal foul in the second half which resulted in a Uruguay goal soon afterwards. In the counter attach Suarez bit the Italian Chiellini on his shoulders and escaping a red card despite this severe foul. Bottom line: Italy out. Sigh!

• Brazil Vs Chile, in round of 16, was a match that literally exposed all the weaknesses of Brazil. The game was a tie till extra time end with one same side goal from Chile, and eventually carried on up to the Penalty Shootout. Julio Cesar, however, saw to it that Brazil got through to the quarter finals by virtue of few amazing penalty saves, but weakness of Brazil has been exposed nevertheless.

• In round of 16, Columbia Vs Uruguay, James Rodriguez produced a goal from thin air that shall be remembered as one of the best goals ever. It was indeed a pleasure to witness the goal. It was sheer brilliance.

• Quarter final provided the audience with the best match of Brazil in 2014. It wasn’t one of the highest scoring match this time but certainly the only match where Brazil looked totally under control of what’s happening. But the match eventually was a tragedy. Thiago Silva saw a yellow card for the second time and was thus suspended from the next match. Neymar (the only Brazilian who played with full rhythm throughout the tournament) was injured severely and left the match as well as the tournament with two broken vertebrae, a loss that will eventually prove expensive to Brazilians both in football as well as their moral.

• Semi Final of Netherlands Vs Argentina was one of the most boring matches ever. It produced no goals in the total 90+30 minutes of the game. Despite few good attempts from Robben the match was goalless. Eventually Argentina got through to the semis due to some exceptional penalty saves from Romero. Netherland’s World Cup Dreams were shattered again.

• Devastation for the Hosts finally. Brazil humbled by the mighty Germans. The match was a nightmare which no Brazilian will ever forget. 4 goals conceded in 6 minutes, eventually 7-0 till 90 minutes and just to save the face of Brazil, 1 goal was scored by Oscar in the last minute to make the final score 7-1. Klose breaking the record of Ronaldo for the maximum number of world cup goals. This match certainly broke Brazil's backbone, just like quarter finals had broken Neymar’s. The devastation was so huge that even in 3^rd position final match between Brazil and Netherlands, Brazil lost to the dutch by 3-0.

• Finally the big day. The grand WC Final. Argentina Vs Germany. Historic rivalry raised stakes sky high. The match was brilliant with few fantastic attempts, few miserable misses, few brilliant saves by Neur as well as Romero. It was getting more and more thrilling as the match continued. Eventually, first time in history, Argentina conceded a goal in the extra 30 minutes and the match ended in Germany’s grand victory. Schweinsteiger was brilliant in this match, although not the goal scorer himself, but his efforts were untiring and have indeed been the best performance of the day. I supported Germany in this match but I was indeed heart Broken to see the face of Messi at the end of the match.

And Finally All Well that Ends Well. A month and a half, well spent to satisfaction.

WELL DONE GERMANY; CONGRATULATIONS.

OFFICE MEETING

Sunchhi Kotha Kaan Ti Khule,

Chokhti Kore Gol,

Bujhchhi Na Tobu Ek Bindu,

Partial Ba Whole.

Office Meeting Bejaay Boring,

Mathay Holo Byatha.

Chhere De Maa Kende Banchi,

Ke Shone Kaar Kotha.

Kil, Chor, Bohu Kheyechhi Schoole,

Tobu To Pnod Fatto Na.

College Prof Rao Heabby Aantel,

Kintu Tarao Ato Chatto Na.

Shobai Jano Shob-Janta,

Ami Sudhui Haaba.

Shobari Haab Bhaab Amon,

Jano Bidyasagarer Baba.

Hoe Jabo Amio Eder Moton,

Koek Bochhor Pore.

Etai Ja Dukkho Pai,

Etari Ja Bhoy Kore.

Work Culture Change Korbe-

Jogote Kar Sadhyo?

Sarkari Chakri Bole Kotha,

Hawabaji Thaakte Badhyo.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

 

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. It's a movie that literally exceeded all my expectations. I did expect something great from Peter Jackson, but despite my already high expectations (From the magnificent LOTR Trilogy and Hobbit's 1^st instalment), I got a lot more and am all the more eager for the third instalment. It’s indeed a lesson to be learnt from Peter Jackson and the rest of the team how to live up to the high expectations of the public and how to keep up the quality of your work high.

First of all, the movie was a visual splendour. The scenes, frames, graphics, special effects, everything was just extraordinary. Secondly, comes the excellent acting of all the different actors, including the dwarves, elves, wizards, orcs, men, the one hobbit and above all SMAUG (Benedict Cumberbatch's voice over and animation team's work are both above all the praises I can provide). Thirdly the excitement and thrill provided in especially last one hour of the movie (I was literally on the edge of my seat). Last but not the least, the ending, which literally made me recline on my back and say "sigh! When will the next movie come??!! Oh God let it be out fast!!”

The story picks up from just after the end of the 1^st Hobbit movie. Just like all the middle age films of Jackson, this one also had some brilliant illustrations of the middle earth terrains and species. Legolas was shown as agile and skilful as ever. As a bonus we got the super elf Tauriel and she was indeed amazing in all respects. Some ancient black elvish spell, when uttered by Sir Ian Mckellen, sounded as epic as always. The journey of the dwarves through mirkwood was exceptionally wel scripted, and the much awaited barrel ride was so spectacular that i was rendered breathless while watching it. All in all, despite the much fuss about such a small book being made into 3 long movies, I felt the movie was pretty fast paced and brimming with information from all middle earth fictions of Tolkien (not only the hobbit) and absolutely mesmerizing at several places.

It doesn't happen often that a movie buff like myself get on the edge of his seat while watching a movie. I am really lucky that it has happened so frequently in the last 2 months. Gravity and Captain Phillips were both such excitement to watch and cherish (I really felt that after several months since TDKR, I saw such exciting two movies), and then in less than a month and a half, came Hobbit's second instalment. I am spellbound. Long live Hollywood for keeping my life entertained and me busy appreciating their great works. Kudos Team Hobbit.

Premer Byatha

Bhalobashar daam diye kini nai prem,

Kinechhi ek jhuri lanchhonar byatha,

Hridoye ache je lukono photo frame,

Tomari chhobir sathe boli tai kotha.

Akhono tomay bashi njer theke bhalo,

Tumi e shob, tomay chhara ache aar ki?

Hridoy jure tumi kore rakho alo,

Ei premer theke ache kono nistaar ki?

Mone pore ek sathe katano samay?

Ek saathe bhag kore newa sukh dukh?

Aaj kano chari dik phaanka lage hay?

Mon amar kaande tobu hashe tomar mukh!

Aaj tumi chaona bhuleo ei pane!

Abohela dao more, akash kore kalo,

Tobuo janbe joto din thakbo ei khaane,

Tomarei tobu ami beshe jabo bhalo.

Kandchhe mon tobu mukhe niye hashi,

Prithibi er monche kori abhinoy.

Amar chiro taaja prem, tomar kachhe bashi,

Ishwar tobu koruk, tomar jibon sukhomoy.

Farewell Sachin

It’s an amazing feeling today..Peculiar, weird..Seeing Sachin play for so many years, didn't realize how time flew and i grew up from a little kid..the kid i once used to be, watching sachin play, in a black and white TV, sitting on my grandfather's side..his brilliant innovative as well as text book shots..his centuries, his sixes, his fours, we cherished every bit of 'em..we mourned when he lost his wickets, we rose when he rose his bat, he practically became a part of our life..in india, cricket is the most glamorous game and cricketers are as popular as movie stars, even more perhaps..credit for that goes entirely to Sachin..even before exams, children told their mom "lemme see the match as long as sachin plays, then I'll study" and moms didn't protest..that era ends in the present test match..cant believe it's his last match..cant believe the young kid playing amidst seniors like azhar, siddhu, etc, scoring runs after runs, finally called it a day..the little master retires..he retires after breaking all records possible..he retires after setting such new records which god knows when anyone can ever touch or break..my friend Mayur Tailor aptly says: "Somewhere between the Debut and Retirement of Sachin Tendulkar, We all grew up"..
indeed..thank you Sachin for making us all so proud of you..thankyou for everything..

Gravity & Captain Phillips

Amazing Sunday, well spent with friends..

It was 6 O' Clock in the morning when the alarm sounded. I was irritated since it was Sunday and only because of my friends' coaxing had I made a plan to take a trip to Kolkata for watching two movies back to back. I did not know then that it was going to be so much worth it.

The 1st movie was Gravity. I won't call it a movie. It was rather an experience. It felt like literally being present in the hollow space with Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. Their acting was amazing, so was the direction, 3D, cinematography, sound editing and the concept of the film is beyond my praises. I remember the last time when i got so much hang of a movie after seeing it in a theater. It was the Dark Knight Rises. Felt similar kick after watching this one. Took me literally several minutes to realize I'm back to the real world after the movie..Amazing..simply amazing..Every word spoken by George Clooney literally had such impact..

Not only me, even my friends thought it's enough. Gravity was so awesome that the next movie won't be able to match the kick of gravity. We were all so wrong. Captain Phillips is what we saw next. Tom Hanks proved yet again that aging doesn't depreciate the value of gold..He reminded me again of his genius in Forest Gump, Philadelphia, Cast Away, etc. The man is a gem and so is the movie. Amazing screenplay, direction, all round exceptional performances from every one, and legendary performance from Tom Hanks. The entire movie was awesome, but last half an hour proves, no one but Tom Hanks could have played this role of Captain Phillips..We were speechless seeing him. The hangover of gravity was not only removed totally by Captain Phillips, but was rather replaced by its own kicks and highs..

I am going to remember this Sunday forever, because may be several times before I saw back to back movies in multiplexes, but it's the 1st time that both turned out to be such extraordinary films..I can't still believe my luck today..Thank you buddies..

Bhaskar Sharma & Syamantak Dhar..