Never Judge!

We’ve all heard the saying before “Never judge a book by its cover.” This timeless saying, though old, is new in my heart. Most people do judge people by their outwardly appearances, even if they don’t mean too. Everyone has! We are human; it’s only a part of human nature!

I have heard this saying from as far back as I can remember. I do not remember who I first heard it from, but then again, it’s a very common saying. It wasn’t till I reached pre-school that I began to understand the true meaning of “Never judge a book by its cover.” Of course, back then, I understood it on a very basic level, such as certain food looks strange, but they might taste yummy.

In primary school, there was a janitor who was very old and crusty looking. At first glance, she looked like an old sea captain, tall and firm, with a look of history in her eyes. When I first saw her, I feared her, but as days and weeks passed by, I saw her in a new light. She knew the names of all the students and addressed them as such. She spoke kindly to everyone and often talked to children about how school was going. I greatly misjudged her, for although she looked rough on the outside, inside she had a heart of gold.

My middle school was similar to many others; there were the jocks, the nerds, the popular kids and the creepy kids that most people tried to avoid. I had always labeled people in a certain category, never as one. To me, everyone had a group in which they would mingle among themselves, but never with another group. However, I was proven wrong one day during PE when some kids from Special Ed came to join us in indoor baseball. Everyone was divided into teams, and the game began. As the game continued, one of the Special Ed girls came up to bat. She was for the most part wheelchaired-bound and had to have help doing everything. With help from some teammates, the ball was put into play, and there before my very eyes, I saw my fellow classmates of all different groups working together. They held her hands and helped her walk from base to base; all the while, the other team was purposefully fumbling and tripping. Everyone, from both teams, was cheering her on, and as she crossed over home plate and settled back in her wheelchair, everyone came together to congratulate her, and I saw a smile of happiness, for she had scored the winning run.

We all see people in our own ways: good, bad, funny, serious; but we cannot truly know what they are really like until we get to know them better, or until something comes along and opens our eyes. So, this is why I believe that you should never judge a book by its cover.

Actress Samantha Mobbed By Fans In Madhurai

Om Puri was my oldest friend: Naseeruddin Shah

On January 6, Indian cinema lost one of its stalwarts, Om Puri. Having debuted with a Marathi film Ghashiram Kotwal, this National School of Drama alumni had a career in films spanning over 40 years. He was known for Hindi films such as Aakrosh, Ardh Satya, Maachis and Maqbool and international projects East Is East (English), Actor In Law (Pakistani).

Hailing from a modest Punjabi film from Ambala, Puri started working while studying. After school he was accepted at the NSD. Puri in several of his interviews had spoken of his close friendship with veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, who he had met at the NSD. He often mentioned how he couldn’t afford a decent shirt to wear to an interview at the Film & Television Institute of India.

This was just one incident that Shah had come to the rescue of his friend. They often described their relationship as based on healthy competition. Shah claimed that he had been “jealous” of his friend when he was offered roles in international projects.

“Here I was playing a loud Punjabi from Delhi [in Monsoon Wedding] while Om was given lengthy roles of an Urdu speaking Muslim,” Shah revealed in an episode of The Anupam Kher Show. “It couldn’t get more ironic.”

When Gulf News tabloid! spoke to Shah about his relationship with Puri, he said it would “take too long to explain” their relationship. Neither was he ready to speak of them at this point, so soon after Puri’s death.

“He was the oldest friend I had in the world and I can’t quite imagine him gone. The thought that I’ll never see him again is very difficult to stomach,” said Shah during an interview to discuss his theatre production Riding Madly Off In All Directions. “But I feel angry [with] him because he should have looked after himself better.”

Shah’s wife, Ratna Pathak Shah, also remembered Puri fondly and described spending some really “fun times” with him.

“I met Om through Naseer and we had hit it off from the first time we went. When Om started Majma [theatre group] that’s when we started working together. This was way back in 1976. It was fantastic — we had no money, no resources or a place to sit down and rehearse lines. We used to get on the top level of a double decker bus in the afternoons at Churchgate and drive all the way to Santa Cruz because it would be practically empty. We sat there and did our lines. Sometimes we did the journey twice and thrice over till the play would finish,” she said. “[Somehow] I associate Om only with the fun part of our earlier days in theatre. It was such a wonderful time. He had seen everything that Mumbai could have thrown at anyone. I was completely bowled over with his determination, hard work and his incredible belief in himself.”

Puri had a difficult childhood. When he was six, his father was arrested for theft of cement from Indian Railways, rendering the family homeless. Puri and his brother took up small jobs — he in a local tea shop and his brother as a porter — to support the family. But he channelled his hardships to portray the characters he played.

“It’s possible to change one’s life with talent and ability,” Puri said. “How else a six-year-old child who washed dirty glasses at a tea stall could become Om Puri?”

Although Shah agrees Puri’s life as being highly inspirational, he says he couldn’t make a film or play based on Puri.

“Firstly it would be impossible to find an actor to portray Om Puri, so I wouldn’t even attempt it. I have written about him at length in my memoirs and might do it again as I’ve been asked to do so by many publications. But I can’t come up with anything articulate at the moment so I haven’t written anything. I will at some point write about him because his life is really very interesting. He had a pretty full life and I don’t think he died dissatisfied — he had fulfilled everything he had ever wanted. Not many people get to do that,” said Shah.

Baahubali 2 is bigger, mightier says Rana Daggubati

Rana Daggubati joined Karisma Kapoor for the Health Awards 2017 in Dubai. The handsome actor spoke to City Times about how he makes sure that he looks good and desirable in every movie, "It's part of my job to stay fit. there are certain demands that come with every film because movies are a visual medium. I follow some training and diet as part of my everyday regime."

"It depends on film to film. For Baahubali since it was a war film, I had to look big and large. Then I did a film called Ghazi Attack where I play a naval officer for which I had to drop a lot of weight. So each role demands different things and we follow that," he added.
Karan Johar is producing his next movie Ghazi Attack, and the Baahubali actor sounded happy about doing another war film. "My next film Ghazi attack releases next month. It is inspired by a true incident in 1971 before the India-Pakistan war. It is probably India's first submarine-based war film. This is another war film like Baahubali but this time underwater."
He also gave some good health tips for our readers. "You need to find time for your fitness and not excuses. One must find time to do cardio or play sports or swimming because it is important to keep the fitness quotient going. One should cheat very little."

What was your fitness routine for Baahubali: The Beginning?Baahubali's fitness routine was the most tiring one because I was training for two sessions a day and eating 7-8 measured meals since I was supposed to have a huge and strong body for the movie.

Can you tell us something about the sequel Baahubali: The Conclusion?
There is something bigger, better, stronger and mightier that is coming on April 28 and we are extremely happy with the way the first part has turned out and the love that we received. It was great motivation to be in part two

How is S.S Rajamouli (director of Baahubali) as a person?
Raja is a fun filmmaker. I have known him for four years now with the journey of Baahubali one and two. You are learning constantly with him. He gives you that large atmosphere for strength and family where none of us feels tired.

While making Baahubali, did all of you anticipate the kind of historical success and love that the movie received?
That is something that you never know during the making of a movie but what we knew is that we were making probably the largest film in this part of the world. Hence, everyone put their best efforts.

BAIRAVAA MOVIE REVIEW

Bairavaa is an action entertainer that talks about a daring debt collector who ends up fighting a hard-core educational field criminal. It is expected to be an unapologetic mass movie that can only be enjoyed and not analysed. So does Bairavaa satisfy the masses? Glance down to know!

After experimenting a little with his performances in his recent outings, Vijay has come out with an out and out commercial action movie, just to treat his hardcore fan base for this Pongal. Yet another energetic performance from Vijay! But one feels his voice modulation sounds very artificial in some places. Beside this, there is hardly anything to complain about Vijay. If there is one thing that makes you watch the film without frowning till the very end, that would be Vijay’s screen presence.

The film travels 20 minutes without Vijay during the flashback portion, a rarity in his films. A gutsy move by the team! Though the flashback is predictable and passable, it helps to create tension and also gives good build up to the villain. The film takes time to settle down, but once it gets going you get a partially satisfactory ride till the mid-point. Pre-climax fight happens to be one of the high points of the film. Post mid way mark, the film resorts to an over beaten screenplay pattern. A couple of impressive scenes here and there keep you alert. It falls flat towards the end and does not excite you.

Keerthy Suresh, as Vijay’s love interest, plays a good natured and gleeful girl next door. It is nice to see the actress establishing a style for herself in such a short span. She has a peculiar set of expressions which works quite well for the character. She has tried her hands on the 'Nellai' dialect but it isn't consistent. Jagapathi Babu, Daniel Balaji and Thambi Ramaiah bring their experience on to the table. Sathish could not manage to evoke laughter like his previous films. 

Few scenes looked over dramatized and could have been toned down. Sukumar has shown Vijay in dynamic angles and it has elevated his mass aspects adequately. The action scenes in particular were well choreographed, thanks to Anl Arasu. Few CGI and set works looked tacky. There were lip sync issues too especially during the early stages of the film. Vijay's toupee, an already exposed flaw spoilt the looks of naturally charming Vijay.

'Varlaam vaa' bgm works so well with the visuals but other RR's hardly make an impact. A couple of BGM looks to be heavily inspired from Hollywood OST's. Song placement of ‘papa papa’ looks force fitted.

SOURCE: BEHINDWOODS

xXx: The Return Of Xander Cage Movie Review : Deepika is the only good thing in this action thriller

Deepika Padukone is all set for her big Hollywood debut with Vin Diesel in XXX: Return of Xander Cage. Before we talk about Deepika Padukone in Vin Diesel-starrer xXx: Return of Xander Cage, who frankly is the only reason why most people in India care about this movie. The Return of Xander Cage’ is an extreme action thriller directed by DJ Caruso. Diesel plays Xander Cage who is believed to be dead but is tracked down in The Dominican Republic and pulled back into service. Deepika will be seen playing the role of relentless and deadly Serena Unger, an Indian origin operative who is skilled with all kinds of weapons. It was the popularity of Padukone that the makers decided to release the film in India a week prior to its worldwide release.

Frankly the film isn’t great, or even particularly memorable. But it’s a terrific showcase for Deepika’s captivating presence, her agility in demanding action scenes, and above all, her blazing confidence. But Padukone’s charm and Yen’s expertise in martial arts are not enough to save this film. Despite the unexplained heavily Indian accent, she holds her own as the badass Serena Unger, a woman of indeterminate nationality who gives as good as she gets.

Neil Nitin Mukesh’s fiancé Rukmini is gifting him on his birthday

Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh’s fiancee Rukmini Sahay planned a day full of surprises for the Wazir actor on his 35th birthday on Saturday. Rukmini planned an entire day off for Neil, who has been working round the clock on the wedding preparations and his film commitments since the past four months, a statement said.

Training to be a fabulous cook since Neil is a foodie himself, she lined up a five-course meal as part of the family get together over brunch that was followed by a personalised couple de-stress spa session at their sprawling new pad in Andheri.

Another get together has been arranged for the evening where Neil’s childhood friends will showcase what they have put together for his sangeet. Also, since Neil is a complete gadget-freak, Rukmini is gifting him a Play Station 4 Pro.Now, that's some relationship goals!

Neil and Rukmini will tie the knot in Udaipur in February. They will also be hosting a grand reception for their Bollywood friends on February 17 at a five-star hotel in Mumbai.

Collection of Ram Charan Pictures

Anupama Parameshwaran confirms Ram Charan movie

Anupama Parameshwarn has been confirmed as heroine in Ram Charan's next movie to be directed by Sukumar. And on the eve of Sankranthi, the beauty of 'A Aa', 'Premam' and 'Satamanam Bhavati, announced that she has signed the film officially.

She tweeted, "Happy bhogi to all.. Happy to announce My next telugu film with director sukumar sir, ram charan, ratnavelu sir & mythri movies.."

This is her big project in Telugu.