Razor Tips . . .

This article appeared in The Times of India on 31st JAN 2011 (MON)

Keeping it clean

Here are points you should keep in mind before you run that razor on your skin and trim that stubble

Shaving is not only the most basic way for a man to look clean and good but the right trim can enhance your facial features. With the rise of the neosexual man, the need to look attractive has increased. Of course, like any other beauty regimen, shaving requires a little preparation as well.
Shaving just after you wake up from sleep in the morning increases the chances of irritation to your skin. The stubble is actually too hard early in the morning. Use a cleanser or a face scrub to remove the dead cells on your skin and to open up the pores half an hour before you shave. Wet your beard or stubble with luke warm water before you start shaving as this weakens the hair and swells the hair shaft allowing a better shave. While using a shaving gel, massage the cream onto the stubble and leave it for around two to three minutes before you start shaving. Remember, if your shaving cream is foamy, it is not the best cream to use. Try to use a shaving cream or gel which is vitamin or aloevera- based, as these will rule out the razor burn (if caused). If you want to avoid shaving cuts, use a sharp and high quality blade instead of a dull one. Also, never use a blade for a long time; dispose it off if it’s dull.
Before shaving, rinse the blade in luke warm water and start with short strokes. While shaving, remember to start with the cheeks and neck and then move to the area around the mouth and the chin. After you shave, finish by rinsing off with cool water to close the skin pores. Use an after shave which is alcohol free and will soothe the skin instead of causing any irritation. Apply an oil-free moisturiser if you do not like using an after shave.
TNN

SHAVE IT OFF: Don’t go for a shaving cream that foams excessively

10 best films of the decade

This article appeared in The Times of India on 30^th JAN 2011 (SUN)

From Lagaan to Rang De Basanti, Lage Rao Munnabhai and Jab We Met, the last 10 years make for memorable film moments. Subhash K Jha revisits the decade

Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
Director: Farhan Akhtar
The trio of Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna as friends discovering their bearings in a world of delusion and heartbreak became the ultimate youth flick in Hindi cinema. Says Farhan Akhtar, “Sujoy Ghosh of Jhankar Beats and Nikhil Advani of Kal Ho Na Ho told me they were inspired by Dil Chahta Hai. I’m more than happy being a part of their inspiration. I would like to do a prequel on the characters, as when they were younger.”

Lagaan (2001)
Director: Ashutosh Gowarikar
It was nominated for an Oscar. The impact of colonialism, cricket and Aamir Khan (in that order) was lethal. Says Ashutosh Gowarikar, “Lagaan is about the triumph of the human spirit. So, it had to be about a team sport. Once I thought of cricket, I also thought about the little mind games that the British indulged in with the locals, and what would happen if the locals picked up the gauntlet. I expected people to like Lagaan. But not to this extent.”

Black (2005)
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Powerhouse performances by Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee lifted the tale of the teacher and his disabled student to the realm of great art. Says Sanjay Leela Bhansali, “Years ago, I made my first film Khamoshi about a couple whose hearing and speech were impaired. After Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas, the market demanded that I make another spectacular epic with songs and dances. Instead, I chose to make a film about less privileged people.”

Page 3 (2005)
Director: Madhur Bhandarkar
Kitne ajeeb rishte hain yahan pe… Lata Mangeshkar’s theme song described the hypocrisy and self-deceptions of the entertainment industry. Says Madhur Bhandarkar, “People laughed at me. They never believed I could pull it off. After Chandni Bar, I made Satta and Aan, which flopped. Page 3 was the underdog of 2005, yet it was the first hit of the year. Did the Page 3 circuit come to see the movie? They did! I made the film with my heart and soul.”

Rang De Basanti (2006)
Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
The film took on corruption in our society through the eyes of a bunch of youngsters who discovered the significance of the Freedom Movement. Sit-ins and candle vigils became an integral part of urban protests after RDB. Says Rakeysh Mehra, “We did not set out to make a film that would have such a reverberant impact. There were films on Bhagat Singh that didn’t connect with the audience. Any sign of patriotism was read as a danger sign, yet we were a success.”

Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006) Director: Raj Kumar Hirani
Sanjay Dutt, as a modern day goondaturned-Gandhian, became an instant cult hero. Munna Bhai’s message of Gandhigiri continues to resonate till date. Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson Tushar Gandhi says, “It’s almost as if a new generation has discovered Bapu. This film showed the power of Satyagraha. Gandhigiri was a welcome coinage. I think Bapu would’ve spoken the language of Gandhigiri if he were alive today.”

Chak De! India (2007)
Director: Shimit Amin
It did to sports and sportspeople what Black did to the physically challenged and Lagaan did to patriotism. Hockey suddenly began to stick. Says Shimit Amin, “We had a variety of cast and crew, from the research team that came from all parts of the country to a cast that comprised athletes and untried actors posing as hockey players. As far as the film’s impact goes, we don’t know how much it has helped hockey, but kids too started to look at at the sport in a new light.”

Taare Zameen Par (2007)
Director: Aamir Khan
The gentle and moving story of a dyslexic child, played by the talented Darsheel Safary, opened up a nationwide debate on the pros and cons of child education through a uniform syllabus. Says Amole Gupte, “I’ve been involved with children’s projects for many years. Taare Zameen Par was an extension of an ongoing affinity to children’s issues.”

Jab We Met (2007)
Director: Imtiaz Ali
A feisty, fiercely original rom-com, which took audiences on a ‘Bharat darshan’ while telling the story of the spirited Geet, played with gusto by Kareena Kapoor, and the suicidal tycoon (Shahid Kapoor) who runs into her. Says director Imtiaz Ali, “Kareena was sure any location I selected would be at least two hours away from a decent hotel. But she was willing to slum it out. We shot places that a lot of people haven’t seen on the map. This script was born out of my love for travel.”

Rock On (2008)
Director: Abhishek Kapoor
It launched Farhan Akhtar’s career as an actor and a singer. Rock On heralded the era of the rock-stadium flick in Hindi, bringing a new energy and genre to Hindi cinema. The rock soundtrack by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy first confused, then enchanted the audience. Says director Abhishek Kapoor, “Rock On was a life-changing experience for me and for the entire team. We still haven’t gotten over it. We hope to do a sequel some day.”

Sachin - the unstoppable

This article appeared in The Times of India on 26^th JAN 2011 (Wed)

SACHIN TENDULKAR (1992, 1996, 1999, 2003 AND 2007): Was India’s rock in 1996. Get Sachin, get India was the mantra for the opposition and barring the match against Zimbabwe, when the champion fell for a single-digit score and India still won, his wicket often turned the game around. The semifinal against Sri Lanka in Kolkata and the league match against Australia in Mumbai were classic examples. In 2003 too he was unstoppable.

In Memory of a voice that passed away. . . .

This article appeared in The Times of India on 25^th JAN 2011 (Tue)

He was a rare phenomenon in an art which prides itself on being deep and dense — an aam admi’s classical singer. Even those who did not understand the masterly sweep of his Miyan ki Malhar knew Pandit Bhimsen Joshi (Feb 4, 1922-Jan 24, 2011) and his awesome voice. For many, he was Hindustani classical music. Panditji (seen here at TOI’s sesquicentennial celebrations in 1988) ruled the concert stage for six decades. In the words of Pandit Jasraj, he was a chaumukha gayak: a man who revelled in a bhajan or a khayal with equal verve and joy. Few anthems have the pulling power of his Mile Sur Mera Tumhara. He passed away on Monday in Pune, the last colossus of the Kirana gharana

Coins of the past

This article appeared in The Times of India on 18^th JAN 2011 (Tue)

BRITISH DECIMAL HALF-PENNY | Minted in bronze. It was the smallest decimal half-coin in both size and value. Nicknamed the tiddler because of its size, it was withdrawn in 1984

1 CENT BRAZILIAN REAL COINS |

Production of the 1 cent — also known as centavo — was discontinued although existing ones continue to be legal tender. Shopkeepers now generally round prices to the next 5 or 10 centavos.

SWEDISH 50 ÖRE | Discontinued in 2010. The five, ten, and 25 öre coins were withdrawn in 1991.

INDIAN ALUMINIUM COIN SERIES |
Issued from 1964 onwards, they were 1paisa, 2 paisa, 3 paisa, 5 paisa, 10 paisa and 20 paisa. Although referred to as the aluminium coins, they were actually made of a mixture of aluminium and magnesium. Cost benefit considerations led to their withdrawl in the '70s and '80s.

NEW ZEALAND 5 CENT |
Discontinued in 2006. The 1984 batch of 5 cent coins — of which there were only 48,000 issued, is highly prized by collectors