Loins Of Punjab Presents is so funny and heart-warming, that I saw it not once, but twice. I noticed that the film managed to garner from the audience, not just laughter but applause, and at precisely the same moments, both times round.
A good friend appears twice in the film. First, as small-minded janta, who whilst taking the same lift as Ayesha Darkar and her American boyfriend, smirks at the boyfriend who could be described as ‘honourary Indian’.
During the second half of the film, he is part of the audience during a desi Idol contest. Twas’ most amusing to watch his expressions and sincere attempts at acting, even though for just a split second.
The film was made two years back. Since then our-star-in-the-making has lost oodles of weight, and has grown exponentially more handsome. His weight loss story is interesting; he does not eat post 8 pm and it actually works. Now, he looks all lean ‘n’ mean.
I have offered to whip up a meal of rice, Goan curry and fish fried in rechado masala (before 8 pm of course), because of his role in making this film happen. May the force with him, and the rest of the crew!
And coming up at the speed of light, is a good friend’s Arya Samaj-style wedding due to various unmentionable reasons. Apparently I am one of the witnesses. That should make life interesting for a day.
This weekend an ex-colleague and I met up for a drink at Mumbai Times Café, this retro-style place in Bandra. They only serve drinks and appetizers, which is pretty good as a concept, I think. However, the music is a wee bit loud, so you can’t really hear yourself think unless you sit in the open-air area, which has THE most attractive vintage Goan-ancestral-home-type furniture, wood, wroth iron and all. The food was all right, but we really wanted to take the chairs home!
I ordered a Caprioska, which comprises vodka spiced up with a few mint leaves, and the only vodka-based drink that I can stomach these days. It was WAY better than Hawaiian Shack version, which pretty much has character, not to mention is borderline medicinal.
Coming back to MTC, the food is no great shakes, except for the odd Goan appetizer. It’s usually tough to go wrong with the latter since most delicacies like the Goan sausage is pre-cooked, and the credit must go to the woman back in the village who strategically marinated and stuffed these intestines in the first place.
Also, met an old friend at The Barbeque Factory, which runs on the same concept as Barbeque Nation. Basically, unlimited kebab appetizers, a buffet comprising the main course, salads and dessert, and a ‘welcome drink’ for Rs 450 plus taxes. Usually such deals make sense if you have a ton of prawns. The rest is as good at what you get at a Bade Miya or any roadside kebab kiosk. The buffet at Barbeque Nation is rubbish. TBF has better food. Taste-wise most of the food is yada, yada, yada, yawn, yawn, yawn. However, a decent ambience and mediocre food for Rs 450 has many takers in this city, that is starved for good places to hobnob, for hours.
My swimming membership has finally come through. As compared to other forms of exercise like gymming, this one seems less ‘synthetic’. I picked the 8 am slot, cause the kids hit the pool at 10 pm onwards, and God-only-knows what they do it in (besides swimming).
And finally, with the new maid being such a rock star, all is possible.
