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Conspirator by R V Raman…..

What a ride!… In the present times Indian novelist such as Ravi Subramanian and R V Raman have managed to catch the present trend of the market and capitalised on an intriguing story line!!…

So while Ashwin Sanghi’s private Delhi had an honest and upright journalist being the centre of attention, here the centre stage is taken over by the media…..

Though the story is fiction I am sure the the materials presented in the story reek of truth if nothing else……

False news and paid news are the words you will read here though we have already been bombarded by them over and over again without realising the truth!

The illicit relationship between media and politics is an open secret!…. It was amazing the way Raman explained how a single news can be presented in two opposite ways!…

How if you are willing to pay your news and views and your policies will be supplimented with ‘expert’ analysis or regular print and digital marketing….

And the final and the most recent craze…. Social media news!… I have long stopped believing anything which is seen or read on FB WhatsApp or Twitter!…. And that’s the truth!….how bots and agencies can create false news and silently fade into oblivion only to strike again with another trash so to speak!….

Starting with a double homicide in COORG to a whole lot of scams all over, Raman spins an intricate web and his financial background aids him well!….

At the end of it all its all money and share market and digital coding….. Things which everyone likes to have as their standard diet!…

It’s a complete Indian work by a complete Indian author with three great best sellers already down the list!…. So those who like to read stuff can grab this without much ado while those who can’t be caught dead reading an Indian book can read it in secret!…..

FB, whatsapp, Twitter, photo morphing, share and SEBI, steganography (!!!), News anchor, news editor and media owners!… Yup…. Covered them all!!….

But as the author ended this melancholically; no one cares…. Everyone forgets the scams….. Everyone just want the entertaining news and not the truth…..cause apparently truth is a myth!!….

Baghi 2!…

So took a leave cause twas my birthday and went with the missus on a Monday morning show!!….lots of romance there!..in the movie that is!!.

When I was in Secunderabad, all my friends knew that I was a big fan of Jackie Shroff! (Then I of course realized that I may be his only fan in the country so I quietly and maturely dropped th act!!)….so when his lil kiddo dances and fights like a dream it’s natural that my opinion gets biased!!

When we see other heroes do superhuman and unbelievable stunts you know that it’s not real but when it’s the Tiger doing them you know that it’s because he might do it in the real sense!…

So baghi first part (not the original Sallu baghi!!….I hate Salman!…so will not even talk or write about him!!)…..was just fight from the first scene and the whole movie!..

Thankfully though here the first half is crisp with awesome twist and turns of the script and for a while I thought I was watching Savdhaan India movie version!!…

Only when the pretty flower drops from the terrace (spoiler alert!!) Does the film gets into the action mode!…

The last half hour or so along with the climax is Tiger flying all around and if it was anyone else you would nod your head in misbelief!!….but what the tiger can do This Tiger does and then some!…

As far as acting goes if you really are going to watch a movie starring Tiger and Disha and directed by Kabir Khan and you are expecting a Newton then you must come to terms with reality as soon as possible before you lose your mind!!..

Then film is for the youth and no one else and the fact that I liked it doesn’t make me or you one though!!….

And yes I liked the army jeep scene….if anyone has any problem to that you can contact me in http://www.idontcare.org!!

Chill…don’t make Maggi!…be baghi!!!

Imagine traveling in a plane and it getting hijacked and the hijackers only demand is that you need to read the Clifton chronicles!!… Then and only then should you attempt to read it!!… Unless of course you have read the earlier six books and waiting for a closure then u are a prisoner with a life sentence and no appeal!!…

The master of short stories (his book To cut a long story short was the only one which I have liked though I have read them all…) should have ended this charade long back instead of dragging it like the screenplay of a never ending soap….. It felt like he was cutting (or building!!) a short story long!!…
His only other work worth mentioning would have been the prisoner’s diary which was tolerable cause it was true…..
If this was a lame attempt to include world events in the storyline then Ken Follet would be rolling and laughing!!…
The novel should have been titled lady Virginia chronicles (though she’s Neither a lady nor a… you get my drift!!??)…. And in spite of her venomous nature she was not given a closure or maybe Jeff forgot her during his episodic dementia!! (Spoiler alert!!… Though it really doesn’t matter… Believe me!!)
Jeff of late has also become extremely obsessed with death….. With the amount of deaths happening you would think it’s an abridged script of game of thrones!!….
In summary read it to get the closure but don’t expect more since so many questions have been left unanswered…
The light at the end of the tunnel was very fickle indeed……

Pralay….

You know that nagging feeling you get when you know that with so many stories and sub plots going around there will not be space for conclusion!….and then your biggest fear is realized….. Those three words which can put shiver to anyone’s spine or make you pale like never before!…

No those words are not I Love you!….this is much more personal and makes more noise and reaches the dark spaces of your brain and heart!!… didn’t you get it??….

The words are…..TO BE CONTINUED!…..

So that’s the the big surprise in the book and once that’s done with you can happily either read this one now or wait for the final book and read together!…the same with Amish Tripathi and his Rama series but rest assured it is not as frustrating as waiting for Jeff Archers Clifton Chronicles series!!..

So Taking off where the first one started, this one’s ups the ante to more Gore and more revelations and more killing!!….to spend three hundred pages to just reach where the first book was already there is quite an ardent task indeed!…..but once you get the flow you are hooked even though it may seem silly!!…it’s like you want the Game of Thrones to come soon and then you can’t wait for it to end!….

Frankly though the author has taken a leaf Outta Ashwin Sanghi’s books and made it of a different time altogether!….it’s cool that we have so much material to work with!…our history is a virtual goldmine for authors like Dan Brown and co!…

So read at your leisure and get the parallels to the things which you already know; be it some mantra or some ritual or some Avatar!….Vineet has the story filled to the brim with these and then some!..

Good effort and frankly a good refresher for me!….go for it!….the simple language with some interspersed sanskrit and Hindi words will flow like butter and you can finish this one in a couple of hours like me!!….

The best thing about the book is the description of Varanasi and it’s gastronomic delights!….

Having said that I would also consider that this is a good first attempt by an author who is a successful entrepreneur and the best selling author of three non fiction books!…

So there’s no lack of brain or knowledge in the side of the author when he tries to mix a sweet amalgamation of ancient civilization to the present times!…

In an effort reminiscent of Dan Brown or more closer Ashwin Sanghi the author keeps the narrative fast paced and engaged!….

A generous dose of ancient scriptures and beliefs have been strewn with a modern twist to make this fiction more mysterious!….

Harappa has always been a topic of intrigue since no one knows what is the truth and since many findings can be interpreted either way it is a virtual goldmine for authors like Vineet!!…

So you have your usual chosen one, the strong and beautiful damsel (s!!), Lots of action, lots of kill and lots of thrashing of the foreign belief or understanding!…

It’s really a pity that the very intellectual hot shots who would proudly show off their Dan brown would never even accept interested in reading this one!!….

So pretenders can read Origins once again while others can read this one and believe me you will not be disappointed……!!

For those Bravehearts who did start on this one lemme tell you that it’s only the first part!… But don’t worry the next one is also released!… So while I grab on that one you folks can start this one!!… What say Pralay!!….

Nehru the creation of India by Shashi Tharoor….

Let me answer the biggest question first!!…

No, I did not have to reach to my dictionary now and then to read this one!…I guess this one was before the vocabulary attack!…. Literally!!…..

Another perspective from a member of the same party trying to score some browny points while cleverly indicating a lot by saying very little!!…. That’s what is the book which though non fiction is fiction to a point of view of the man who himself is under a cloud of suspect nowadays!….

While freedom at midnight gave so much importance to Lord Mountbatten and while Azad’s autobiography gave it to himself and am sure while the hordes of books on the Mahatma give the onus to Gandhi, this one is Nehru everywhere!…

The clever manipulations by the father of the nation to give post to his protégé might have in effect given us a weak, temperamental, communistic and naive first leader of the country…… Imagine the strong Bose or the iron Patel as the more stronger alternates…… At this point it’s only a matter of have been and nothing else……

And how cleverly

Tharoor glides over the women in the pundit’s life giving ample space for imagination is why the book had to be written by Shashi….

Had picked up this one too see one more opinion if that would change mine….. About dynasty that is…. But safe to say that this one is nowhere close….

Read to know another view point though don’t expect it to change your point of view!!…… So exasperating!!!…..

Courage and commitment by Margaret Alva….

Non fictions usually take a longer time to read and more importantly finish… So this one was done in three days since I was in a hurry to know how it ends!!…

Being an Alva and a convent educated lady the diction and narration would obviously be good…. May not be Avante garde like Tharoor but it was in a language wherein I didn’t have to reach for the dictionary every now and then!!…

In the big ocean that’s the Congress party there were so many leaders who do shine but finally they have to endure sideline…

So inspite of being the youngest RS MP or doing amazing work at every given post be it lobbying for equal status to airhostess, or the women reservation bill, or getting funds for the poor apparently and many many more!…. The whole book is filled with her achievements and rightfully so!…. But at the end of the day its all gas…. Literally!…

There was a narrative stating how shifting out of offical house was a pain after her term came to an end and I was appalled!!… Did the madam think this was her own house!!??….. To think that she is actually one of the better politicians around and you can only imagine the state of the worse ones!…

It was treat though to understand what happens in those international trips which our MPs and MLAs crave and kill for!…. The first class travel, the big banquets, the gifts and of course free alcohol!!…. All at the expense of the taxpayer!!….

The life of a politician though was no better than a sub standard soap though!… The back stabbing, the boot licking, the friends becoming foes and finally in the end only two things prevail…. Money and ego!…

Many positives though as her mentioning of PV N Rao, the actual architect of economic boom and the one who has all been forgotten by the same party….. The way she mentioned about the first prince Rajiv and then the latter prince was quite open but then again she goes Back to the devotee mode which is like the mantra of the members of this party!…. Her narration about the Sanjay and emergency period was also very vivid though I am guessing that in hindsight she would have toned down the narrative to be more pro Indira than she intended to be…… All these actual truthful depiction starts well though but lose steam midway which was quite sad really….. But then you cannot live in the pond and fight with the Croc right!!??

At the end of it all the many years of work was never appreciated since at the end of the day she did not get a ticket for her son!…. That’s what it finally ends up in…. Everyone wants to roam around, work for the party, give free advice, please voters by pseudo dreams but finally no one ever thinks about the country……

Any other country and party you would have reached the stars madam but in this party you may be the most deserving minister but the crown will always go to the Prince!!……

The Keepers of the Kalchakra by Ashwin Sanghi….

Apply laws of quantum physics to astrology and you get this!!…

Imagine that you have a quantum twin!…. That means there’s someone just like you who is sharing your energy!…. He or she may be in some other part of the world though!… When you sleep is when he or she gets up!… What you have seen in your dream in probably what he or she would have done awake!!…. Much like the movie Avatar!…. There comes a point where dream and day unite!! (Reminds me of a pink Floyd album!!)….. But the core use of this is that is someone is the quantum twin of say the Prezi of a big country and you want to kill him or her then all you have to do is kill the more accessible twin!!….

The premise was good and the way Ashwin handles it is usually on par with Dan Brown. So if you are big on Dan Brown novels then you will definitely like this one cause this is closer to your home!…. Though the colonial hangover will obviously prevent most to even admit that they read Ashwin!…

Like his previous books, this one too is full of the ancient history so to speak though in this one the treatment starts very rationally but gets magical (literally!!) In the end!!….

References to Budha, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Ravana and finally the Lotus which is the center of discussion even in the country!!…

Lots of twists and surprises as usual and lots of ancient information packaged for the modern minds so to speak!…

This one may not be as good as his epic The Rozabel Line but it’s not as bad as the private Delhi!….

The regulars will like it since it is clear that Ashwin has done a lot of reading before writing this one and it shows….

Others can go and read Dan Brown origin once again just for the spite!!…..

Batman…..
He was my craze ever since I heard about the billionaire who had a secret lair and used to stay up in the night fighting crimes and keeping criminals at Bay!….

My (and most Indians!) First brush with Batman was the famous animated series by Warner brothers!…. At that time it was cutting edge animation compounded by gripping story telling and extensive use of shadow and visual cues!… Even now this series is counted as one of the best superhero animated series ever!…. The latter ones like Batman of the future and justice league only added the flavour!….

‎There was a time when this used to come only in the doordarshan metro channel and I used to eagerly wait for the Sunday to watch it!…. In fact during the days of entrance it was the only TV I used to watch!…

There was a slight interruption during the first few years of MBBS since I neither had the time nor the courage to approach the TV room area of the men’s hostel!… Then during the final year and house surgeoncy with added company of Sameer the hulk and hunk of our batch we used to sneak up most of the episodes of Batman!….

Our regular routine was to reach half hour earlier and slowly dwindle the competition!….😃😃… The Juniors used to listen to me, while the seniors used to get convinced by Sameer!!…. Later on when Vivek and Ramki also joined our gang of Batman viewers it was easier to get our channel!… The worst was of course when there were super seniors and they were hell bent on watching the news or some other archaic thing just to spite us!!

 

One fine day we were happily watching it in house surgeons quarters that the connection got interrupted!…I still remember driving my bike like a madman with Sameer behind me to reach the first block men’s hostel where we knew we could watch in peace!!…. There were a couple of super seniors who were watching some old Malayalam movie at that time though!… But when we told them that we have come all the way from house Surgeon quarters to watch then they relented much to our relief!!….

It was then Sameer told me to never drive like that again except if it is to watch Batman!!😃😃….

After leaving the college though I caught up with most of the Batman movies and animated series, it was Only a passing viewing!…. In fact during the PG days we were ourselves Batmen who used to be awake the whole night and day and work like zombies in the ward, op and theater!!😃 (Operation!)……

We had realized that of all the super heroes most of them adults wanted to be Batman because only he had no super powers!… Sounds childish but everyone at that time thought that the only thing required to be Batman was to have lots of money and a big mansion!!😃😃…..

Anyway that was when I was young (er!!)… Now the movies are piled up in my hard disc while the comics are gathering dust in my shelf!!…. All good things come to an end I guess. …..or not!!

The other day I was showing this new Yoga Tablet to Minu and calling it really cool!….

To which my son remarked, “that may be cool dadda!…. But you know who is more cool!!??😃😃”

He lifted his favorite superhero figurine in his hand and announced…..”BATMAN!!!”….

and the story continues!!😃😃..……

 

Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari!…
Finally finished this masterpiece!…. Imagine that the amount of time it took to finish!… Close to two months when I had finished five other novels in between!…😃😃…
The reason is not that it is boring but because it’s so serious and factual that I had to give my complete attention to read each and every word!…. If homo sapiens was gold then this one is at least Platinum!!…..
It was almost as if it was an extension of Dan Brown’s latest novel Origin!…. And then some….!!
The way automation has been explained esp in the later chapters is just mind boggling!… This one is not just another read and forget!….
Turing test or Google or Cortana or Facebook or Apple!…. You name if you got it!… How many jobs are in the process of getting lost to automation is scary!!…
How robots are just a few algorithms away from being humans is very very interesting!…. How the impossible feats of the past are just the usual routine of today!….
Yuval you are a genius! 👌👌…. Big Salute to you!…. Just go for it folks!…. One of the few books which I bought both the hard copy and ebook version cause I couldn’t get enough!!😃😃…..
The new religion is going to be information or dataism!!….. Get ready!!