Seven people you meet in a gym - Part 1

A gym is a funny place.
As in, not a place which is funny; but a place where you can have fun - just by observing.

I like observing.
I like to have fun.
I like to have fun by observing.

I know, it’s not a syllogism.

Librans are not good at syllogisms.
I am a Libran.
I am not good at syllogisms

I am digressing.

The point is - - A gym can be a funny place.

And there is a theory, like the six degrees of separation theory verified by Mr. Orkut Buyukkokten, that - - there are seven types of people that one meets in a gym - - any gym.

1. The I am getting married (giggle) Type
2. The Lookers
3. The Burn Fat Earn Fat Type
4. The I want six pack Type
5. The I am here because of my girlfriend/wife (The Bitch) Type 1
6. The I am here because of my girlfriend/wife Type 2 and obviously,
7. The Others (Remember, this is a ‘Seven Type People’ theory)

1. The I am getting married (giggle) Type

Specimen is usually in late twenties – can be spotted fitted into tight new Adidas slacks – tight at all the wrong places, though. They are such a common phenomena that social scientists (funded by wedding planners) are even working on building a model to predict the date of their marriage by the look of sincerity on their face while they exercise.

(Hey! I am not getting married. Don’t stare at my tight, new Adidas slacks)

2. The Lookers

These are scientifically crazy though, I must admit, extremely logical. They believe in the alternative work out therapy. They argue, if its just a matter of just increasing the heart beat at an unsustainable level - staring at beautiful girls in Adidas tights works just fine – enough to get heart beat till 180. Charming theory, devastating results.

3. The Burn Fat Earn Fat Type

These are the most difficult ones to identify. I almost missed this type - till my room-mate joined a gym. And they are curious little creatures (little as in when a momma pachyderm calls her 2 ton son – ‘little’). Their only purpose in joining a gym is to get hungry and use their Sodexho coupons. And it can cause some troubles too… like the other day when my cook almost quit saying 'Bhaiyya, aap ke ghar main 2 seer hain par 10 pet hain (Raavan ki tarah)!!”.
And yes, they feel guilty after they stuff themselves – but guilt also makes them hungry – which in turn makes them happy.

Curious little creatures, these are.
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(Coming up, after a Breezer errrr.. I mean breather)

4. The I want six pack Type

5. The I am here because of my girlfriend/wife (The Bitch) Type 1

6. The I am here because of my girlfriend/wife Type 2

7. The Others

He is back! He is back!! (Movie Review: Nishabd )

'Some love stories are never meant to be understood'.

With a tagline like this, I really thought it was going to be a fairly arbit and experimental movie that will invariably achieve its high before the end and then simply drag on. After all RGV has not only enthralled us with some his work but also bored us to death and at times derived nefarious pleasure through some of his other works. That makes RGV movies like your next assignment at work. You never know what's going to hit you.

Nishabd is a movie you absolutely fall in love with the opening scene. The tall, defeated figure of Amitabh towering amidst some of the beautiful greenery in Munnar sets the tone for this love story that will weave you in its magic for the next 120 minutes.

The plot can be summarized in one sentence: Amitabh, aged 60, falls in love with his daughter's best friend, aged 18, who has come home for holidays.

But then if movies like Nishabd can be expressed in one line 'plots', then Shakespeare can be said to be nothing but just a permutation and combination of 26 alphabets. However, the fact is that the plot can be accurately summarized by the above one line. And that's the beauty of the movie. It’s like a beautiful photograph. You can describe a photograph by saying it captures the sunrise in snow capped Himalayan peaks. But the only way to do justice to it is to watch it yourself – and you realize there is no reason to judge it - - not because it cannot be, but because there is no need to. You know and it knows. It is beautiful and its just perfect.

Amitabh Bacchan (Vijay) delivers one his finest performances till date as the Old Lover to his daughter-aged Jiah Khan (Jiah). Only other actor who could have done justice to this role is Naseerudin Shah. But Amitabh Bacchan brings so much more than just acting the part here. You don't see him as Vijay but see him as Amitabh and it's much more engrossing that way. The dinner scene where Amitabh starts laughing and doesn't stop till the next day is one of the most hilarious scenes in Hindi movies. And its with almost no words. Nishabd :)

The other 2 central roles of - Revathi, who plays Amitabh's wife and his daughter, played by Shradha Arya are there to provide momentum to the story and they both do an excellent role. The transformation from best friend to Amitabh's daughter after knowing the affair has been portrayed with remarkable credibility and with the just right mix of anger and grief by Shradha Arya. Revathi demonstrates what she is capable of as the woman scorn and resigned to the fate of a loveless life ahead. Top drawer performances by both.

And lastly we come to Jiah Khan, who plays Jiah. She comes like the smell of wet earth after the first rains. Appearing nonchalant and casual, but thoroughly intense in her own way, she delivers a power packed performance as the Lolita. Jiah Khan not only matches Amitabh in all the scenes but at times even scores a millionth of a point over the Sexagenarian.

The only way I would have wanted to change the movie is to put 'Rozana' towards the end. It absolutely absolutely deserves its place there and would have provided a beautiful medium to connect with Amitabh's emotions. Why Why Why, oh dear Ramu, did you not put it there...!!!

The part after separation is too short but that was not the subject which RGV meant to deal with and has done well to keep it short.

With Nishabd, RGV again proves that either you love his movies or hate them. I find it picture perfect. Don’t miss it.