Manna Dey: lifetime achievement

Manna Dey

Filmfare recognised 90 year old Manna Dey with an award which was presented by Vidya Balan, who went to his place to do the honours. It brought tear to my eyes that even at his age he was so full of youth in his heart and read out an acceptance speech he had written in impeccable English.

Little known, but Manna Dey is not his real name. It's Prabodh Chandra Dey and he was born in 1919! Beat that!

He has worked in 81 films, his last one being Umar in 2008. He started his career in 1939 and has lent his voice in more than 15 Indian languages, reiterating the fact that music doesn't need a language. I won't list his songs, because there are too many and we know which ones they are.

I am glad Filmfare did this honour to Manna Dey, he truly deserved it!

No One Killed Jessica. Really?

No One Killed Jessica still

So I finally watched No One Killed Jessica. My first reaction was, "Thank God they haven't beeped out the dialogues." I was worried about that after I saw the trailers on television.

I can't believe how pretty Rani and Vidya looked. Rani, quintessentially unglamorous made her character look chic, a perfect Delhi journo of the 21st century and then there was the uber glamorous Vidya who played it down for the perfect portrayal of Sabrina.

As a movie it was beautiful. I felt every emotion- the frustration, the anger, the disgust, every bit of it. Laughed when the characters did and cried when they were hurt. Loved the inclusion of the Rang De Basanti candle light section. Thankfully it was attributed.

Another absolutely amazing thing about the movie is the fact that the dialogues were written keeping in mind my generation. There was no "aap kya soch rahe ho". It was rather "What the fuck are you thinking?" Sabrina was cribbing about not having a boyfriend, not about not being married. Could relate.

Will I watch the movie again? Absofuckinglutely. I am in love with Rani and Vidya and wish to see them again together soon. As for the movie, it angers me that I don't have the money, the power or the ability to have either to make it past the system.