Sunday Marathon

Well, in last 24 hrs i have seen 5 memorable flicks, what a grand way of wasting one's time.

1. Valkyrie (2008)
This is a film based on the July 1944 assassination attempt of Herr Hitler. Unfortunately he survived and Germany had to see its bifurcation as a booty of the war. No word of Great Rommel is heard in this movie. The greatest Field Marshall of Germany Irwin Rommel was executed because of this plot. Tom Cruise has greatly justified the role of true patriot of Germany Stauffenberg. 8/10.

2. Mongol (2007)
A Central Asian movie based on the early life the barbaric beast Ghengis Khan aka Temudjin. This movie in a way justifies Ghengis khan massacres. if you are interested in barbaric Mongols of 12th Century, better watch this movie. 6/10

3. Once upon a time in West (1968)
Another cowboy movie after The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Its climax is really thrilling and the league of Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson and Jason Robards is totally worth admiring. 8/10.

4. 12 Angry man (1957)
This movie is so novel in concept that you can not stop recalling it again and again. Its a story of 12 member jury that has to give verdict either guilty or non-guilty in a murder case involving a teenager. Henry Fonda nails it perfectly. 8.5/10

5. Razia Sultan (1983)
Not many movies are made on the lives of great Turks who decimated the Indian empire before Islamicizing it. Our film history starts and ends with the romance of Akbar-Jodha, Shahjahan-Mumtaz or Salim-Anarkali. There is a lot in our history to be filmed. Not many people know that Alauddin Khilji successfully repelled the ferocious invasions of Mongols on India and he did it not once but half a dozen time without being ever defeated. One time we failed in the time of Nasiruddin Tughalag and a Turkish-Mongol Tamerlane destroyed Delhi killing 1,00,000 Hindus in a span of a day or so. Razia sultan is a love story of a high class princess with the low class Abyssinian slave. We have to learn a lot in making films on history. 4/10.

Adios amigos till i write again.

Medieval India: From Sultanate to the Mughals

After 7 days of immense concentration, i am able to complete Medieval India part one by Satish Chandra. This is an excellent book from a communist perspective. I got to know that the Ottoman Turks sent a fleet of 20,000 men to help India to counter Portuguese navy in mid 16th Century. I also got to know that how a small Portuguese fleet routed the combined fleet of Egypt, Gujarat, Calicut, Bijapur and AhmedNagar. There are very "noted" references from Barani(c. 14 century) , Alberuni(c. 11th century) and Amir Khusrau(c. 13th century) .
Al-Beruni says "The Hindus believe that there is no country but theirs, no nation but theirs, no kings like theirs, no science like theirs. They are haughty, foolishly vain, self conceited and stolid".
Barani says "Hindus are animals and beasts of prey and are plentiful and abundant. Their persecution and stern repression by a despotic ruler was not only inescapable but desirable"
Amir Khusrau says "I have praised India for two reasons. First because India is the land of of my birth and our country. Love of the country is an important obligation. Hindustan is like heaven. Its climate is better than that of Khurasan (Eastern Iran, Western Afghanistan). It is green and full of flowers all the year round. The Brahmans here are as learned as Aristotle and there are any scholars in various fields".
Overall a nice book. 7.5/10.

The week rounds up (16-21) Feb

This week has been one of the most cinema maniac so far.

1. And Justice for all (1979)
Its a classic story of an idealist lawyer. Al Pacino as his best. Defending your in the trial of your life has never been easy. 7/10.

2. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966)
A simple story told in a grand way. One of my all time favorites. Its background score is breathtaking and Clint Eastwood is simply too stylish to be copied. 9/10.

3. Star Wars: A new hope (1977)
A few years back i saw Star Wars: The attack of clones and from that instant onwards i hated Star War movies like anything. I saw A new hope yesterday and it changed the entire perception. Its difficult to imagine the grandness of this movie. Harrison ford is truly amazing. 7.5/10.

4. Star Wars: Empire Strikes back (1980)
The best Star Wars movie according to me. 8/10.

5. Star Wars: Return of Jedi (1983)
Another very well made flick. 7.5/10

6. Johny English (2003)
Its an excellent spoof of James Bond flick. Rowan Atkinson has done a great job in re-inventing Peter Sellers in the body of Bond. 7/10.

Book Review [14] : Shopping for Bombs - Mr. A. Q. Khan

Shopping for Bombs by BBC Correspondent Gordon Corera is an interesting insight into the development of Pakistan uranium enrichment program post 1974 era (After the legendary smile of Buddha on 18 May 1974) and the smuggling of this technology to almost all the countries of middle east and North Korea.

Mr. A. Q. Khan is known as the "Father of Islamic Bomb" and he literally made this happen for the Islamic world by stealing the design of centrifuges from UNRENCO nuclear research lab in Holland in 1975-78. He was ultra nationalist and was trying hard to giving a fitting reply to Pakistan's defeat in 1971 war and India's nuclear explosion of 1974. He eventually succeeded in it but as a side effect he converted all of Asia into an enternal nuclear battlefield. Must read if you want to understand "atoms of peace" and "axis of evil". 

Recommended (7/10)

Weekly Reviews 14th Feb

Here i am with my reviews:

1. The Caine Mutiny (1954)
This movie is about application of art. 184 of the US Army act i.e. relieving of one's superior on account of his inability to handle situation. Legendary Humphry Bogart played the relieved officer role here. I will prefer the new classic Crimson Tide on the same theme any day. Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman stole the show from Bogart's company. 6.5/10.

2. A Few Good Men (1992)
This is the original version of Bollywood flick "Shourya". A Few Good Men is epitomized by the eternal sex appeal of Demi Moore and carefreeness of ever evolving Tom Cruise with foul mouth Jack Nicholson in between. I will say Kay Kay Menon beats Jack Nicholson hands down with his Scottish spirit. Worth watching "A Few Good Men". 8/10.

3. The bridge at Remagen (1969)
This is a typical World War 2 movie about a strategically important bridge on river Rhine. a lot of confusion across both the sides. It reminds me of multi starer "a bridge too far". 6/10.

4. From Russia with Love (1963)
A sequel to Dr. No with a different flavour. A very intelligent bond movie. Spectre playing spoilsport in the cold war. 7/10.

Book Review [13] : The last Mughal

The last Mughal by Scottish Historian is a classic detail of the last years of the last Mughal Emperor of India Bahadur Shah Zafar II (1775-1862).

Its quite difficult to show people of one own race as the murderers, looters and rapists but William has enough courage to depict the true character of British forces when they reconquered Delhi after brutal fighting in Sept 1857. According to British Army commission not even a single British Woman was raped by the Indian rebels while when Britishers recaptured Delhi they raped almost every woman of the Court along withe numerous others. The Mughal Princes Abu Baqr, Mirza Mughal etc were shot dead in cold blood by British official at Khooni Darwaza from a point blank range. Overall this book is a real classic and it talks about in length about the sense of Secular sir in Delhi. Cow Slaughter and even Beef was banned in the Mughal city. Such was the aura of Zafar. The last true Secular King of India.

After the fall of Delhi, Zafar died in Rangoon a simple and slow death. Britishers erected a small stone slab at the site of his burial in 1907 (because of the pressure of local Muslims). In Zafar's own words:

"Kitana Badnaseeb hai Zafar dafn ke liye, Do gaz jameen bhi na mil saki Quye yar main"

Its really painful to know the downfall of once almighty Mughal empire. Overall this book is worth reading.

Highly Recommended (8/10)

Sunday Reviews

Please find the reviews:

1. An affair to remember (1957)
This movie is the original version of a popular Bollywood flick "Mann" (starred by Aamir Khan, Manisha Koirala and Anil Kapoor). This movie renders a beautiful love story between a playboy (Cary Grant) and a simple reserved girl (Deborah Kerr). Must watch for its originality and refreshing spirit. 7/10.

2. African Queen (1951)
Its love story filmed in Africa during first world war and acted by all time great stars, Humphry Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. For me its a sheer wastage of time. 4/10.

3. The best years of our lives (1946)
This movie is strong in content and tells the story of three US soldiers after the World War 2. After their return, they find it too difficult to reconcile with the changed world. In the volatility of war people forget the life after only to realize much later they have fought for a cause the no body cares now. 8/10.

Book Review [12] : India after Gandhi

well, out of a divine inspiration, finally i am done with Ramachandra Guha's master piece "India After Gandhi". These days 'greatest' and 'great' sound as cliches so better not to use any -lative here. Its a book one should read before talking politics atleast in India. I am not a fan of Mr. Guha because of his self proclaimed "righteous" path but he has proselytized me by his writing skill. This book renders quite an interesting journey of Indian Democracy, Socialism, Communism, Communalism, Regionalism etc.

The few points missing (or in bits) in his book are related to the Communist betrayal of India during Sino-India war of oct-nov 1962, the achievements of Indian scientists and Indian sports etc erc. A writer with radical views is condemned to take sides in whatever work he does and even Mr. Guha is not an exception to this rule. 

----Neeraj Kumar Jadaun (Not yet famous historian)

Highly Recommended (8/10)

Let justice be done, though the heavens fall

The title of my post is a tribute to a sensational movie i saw tonight JFK. Lets come back to the review stuff.

1. JFK (1991)

One of the best movies i have ever seen. To see Kevin Costner, Donald Sutherland and Tom lee Jones in movie is absolutely breathtaking. Its about the investigation of John F. Kennedy's murder on 22nd Nov 1963 in Dallas. He was a very young, dynamic and freedom loving president of USA. Obama is just a shadow of him. But as Tennyson had written "Authority forgets the dying king" and so is the case with Mr. Kennedy. The 10 odd minutes speech by Jim (Kevin) is awe inspiring. Must watch movie. 10/10

2. Shall we dance (2004)

I saw this movie only because of Jennifer Lopez. She looked absolutely stunning in this movie.
Time pass movie. 6/10

3. Sorry Bhai (2008)

This director has wasted a bunch of really talented actors in this movie. Chitrangadha singh looked really cool but her acting was simply crass. Overall this movie is really a grinch. 4/10

4. Spanish Civil War Documentary

Its about the story of turbulent of Spain between 1931-1939. Spain became Republic in 1931 shedding ancient Monarchy but was condemned to a brutal civil war wef 1936-1939. It was a micro world war involving almost all the ideologies of the world including Fascism, Communism, Conservatism, Theologism, Anarchism etc etc. Hemingway's "For whom the bell tolls" is a tribute to the civil war between Spanish Nationalists and Republicans. 7/10.