Back after a hiatus

As a brand new mom the kaleidoscope called life looks even more colorful and appealing. Honestly, motherhood is indeed a life-changing event. A different path takes me ahead and I won't stop raving about it.

All that and more soon but for now I just want to experience once again familiar waters of - blah blah blah....publish! :)

So here's me back 2 blogging with this post.

Halle Berry, J-Lo & Me...

Here are some more on the list - Nicole Richie, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Alba, Nicole Kidman.
Yep, its baby boom time and I just seem to be bumping (pun unintended) into pregnant ladies everywhere, even on-screen. In our own bollywood backyard there was Mahima Choudhary who is said to have recently popped out a beautiful girl. And then there was this news of Ash joining this elite gang but soon the news was squashed down as a bad rumour. Ok, then so be it.

This is a new phase in my life, a huge change - from spreadsheets to spreading sheets. I wouldn't go on to say that being pregnant is all roses & peaches (far from that actually) but its a new and exciting experience for sure.

I initially thought about airing all the trials & travails of being pregnant. On - the terrible morning sickness, round ligament pains, Braxton Hicks contractions, food cravings,....of anomaly scans, glucose tests, gestational diabetes....from childbirth & lamaze classes to maternity shopping. But then I decided there are so many pregnancy forums, guide books, websites and blogs for all of this information that I dont need to turn my blog into another one.

Moreover, let me confess am also busy these days planning & organizing for my seemantham (Indian baby shower) function, hunting madly for baby names, patiently listening to loads of advice and worrying about the D-day.

Wish me luck & pray for me. :)

So if I go missing all of a sudden for a couple of weeks, you all know the reason.

Tata Nano - Junta Ki Gaddi!

Just saw the launch of the new 'people's car' - Tata Nano I must say the Tata's have pulled the proverbial rabbit out of a hat! The design, though varying a little from the original design sketch, has not been compromised on and goes on to resemble a lot like the Zen Estillo. With they claiming that the car meets all fuel, safety and environment standards including Bharat III and Euro IV, it must be sending shivers down the Maruti Suzuki spine.

What I loved about the Nano -

1. A car for just 1 Lakh rupees or $2500 - Thats a auto-revolution by national and international standards! "Hmm, shall I buy new a hi-fi stereo's set for my merc?" "Well, why not rather buy nano for my child?"

2. This coming from the Indian stable makes it all the more special. Come on world, stand up and take notice.

3. Cars won't be out of reach of the aam junta. Now every Ram, Vicki and Hari - be they students or peddalars can afford one.

4. Autorickshaw's: would we still need them?

The Only worrisome fact - Indian roads and other basic infrastructure will need a serious upliftment.

Hats Off Tata, for changing the world of automotive forever..

To All New Beginings...

Life is seriously such a paradox. We are so engrossed in the permanence of the present that we actually get the time to feel bored, idle away moments, but when one looks back and sees the amount of time that has escaped from our grasp, it seems like an eternity has passed by.

There was a time when I could not think of anything apart from my exams, projects.
and grades. Friends were then such an integral part of life that there wasn't a day when we didn't hang out with each other. Now all I get and (I also admit) send are a few lame text messages wishing them appropriately the season's best wishes.

Well, life changes, priorities change, and so do many other things, I suppose. But no more blah, blahs this time round, just simple wishes to one and all.

Próspero Año Nuevo 2008

Psst: I just noticed this is the 6th year for my blog!! Whoa, does that mean I'm a veteran already?

Kannada Chartbusters..

I used to always think Kannada movies & songs as the poor cousins of Tamil, Malayalam and the Telugu industry. My mistake..for I could not have been in for a bigger surprise recently. Am not saying the quality of their movies have suddenly shot northward but the music is definitely perking up.

I still have no clue about how the movies fare but here are some really good songs that have found their way to my playlist.

#1 Ninindaale from Milana - A foot tapping number by Sonu Nigam, its instantly likeable.

#2 Anisuthide Yako from Mungaru Male - Now this song should come as no surprise after all the rave reviews it has received.

#3 Ullasada Hoomale from Cheluvina Chittara - Melodiously sung by the immensely talented Shreya Ghoshal, this song has been on the top of the kannada charts for quite sometime now, I heard.


Enjoy maadi...

How Real Are These Reality Shows?

Reality shows have been the order of the day for quite sometime now. Since they have captured all the prime time slots that is available there is hardly any choice left for viewers. Be it Jhalak Dikh Laja, Star Voice of India or the Indian Idol in the north or shows in the same vein such as Mastana Mastana, Idea Star Singer down south. Switch to international channels and all you get is Asian Idols, Survivor etc

Now it would surely take a gigantic effort to keep away from all of them. Its almsot like a dare by the media asking the viewers to try and ignore these reality shows. So well to put it succinctly I also end up watching one or two of these. As probably most of the other viewers I have also done my bit of cribbing about the unwanted display of emotions by the contestants, the exaggeration by the judges and of course also cheered a worthy contestant.

But the only thing that nags me no end is the way they claim that these shows rely on popular public voting. And how the hell do they do it?

For one, none of these shows are telecast live, most of the episodes are shot atleast few weeks ago and so how does the sms's sent by viewers count?

Let me elaborate - Rakhi Sawant made a guest appearance in Star VOI (Shaadi Special episode) much before the start of Nach Baliye 3. She said she had walked in straight from the sets of Nach 3 and urged viewers not to miss the upcoming show. Rakhi's performace with the same costume (the one with which she appeared on VOI) was telecast much later. So how would did it matter whether viewers voted for her or not during the initial episodes?

Similarly trailers of the final episode of Nach Baliye 3 is being aired since last week, which shows the host/compere - Hussain stating that the 'sms vote' counting is almost done and the results are just to be announced. Yet by the end of the day's episode viewers were pleaded/begged to cast their votes for their favourite contestants. So why ask for viewers vote when probably the results have been pre-decided?

Its all perplexing. I am not naive and do realise that these sms's translates to revenue, moolah & TRP's for these shows but atleast then why not make a proper pretence of the importance of these 'votes'? Either the public is being made a fool or there is something that I seem to be overlooking.

Is There Science Behind Astrology?

Horoscopes, birth charts, tarot cards all sound like mumbo jumbo to the convent educated, scientific thinking individuals that we have grown to be. Have recently been having some very interesting discussions with a very learned septuagenarian uncle (an ex-lawyer-cum-tax advisor), who has a completely different take on this subject.

More on this soon.