A little update…

[1] No more student discounts, because…[2] I graduated from university! [3] Graduation OOTD: Dress from Lipsy [4] Olympic fever in London… [5] And I’ve been rediscovering my love for my beautiful city [6] A lovely summer evening by the river [7] I finally went over to the Dark Side, but I am IN LOVE with my Kindle! [8] I’m starting an NCTJ post-graduate journalism diploma [9] Learning journalism shorthand is one of the modules…how complicated does that look?! And then, sneaky jewellery purchases from [10] Accessorize [11] New Look [12] Forever 21

I did a 3-month editorial internship at Asian Woman Magazine, which was really busy/tiring, but such a great learning experience! Plus, I made out with a dog, modelled face tattoos and face jewellery, and interviewed Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor!

[1], [2], [3] I teach Carnatic (South Indian Classical) singing to children on Sundays, and recently my students have been spoiling me! [4] Summer Starbucks drink – Cool Lime Refresha [5] Autumn Starbucks Drink – Salted Caramel Latte ♥ [6] Winter Starbucks drink…usually it’s the Gingerbread Latte but I gave the Toffeenut a go this time! [7] These colder Autumn/Winter evenings are made so much better, thanks to the wonderful-ness that is…TEA! [8] Holly and Ivy growing in my back garden…is it too early to feel a bit festive? [9] Treated myself to a few sparkly bits for my nails, and a Revlon Lip Butter in the gorgeous “Raspberry Pie”

It’s been a busy few months since I finished university in June; I don’t feel like I’ve actually taken a break, as I started my internship about a month after exams finished – hardly enough time to recuperate after a hectic final year at uni! I’m beginning to get my life back in order, though, so I’m hoping to get back to blogging a bit more regularly!

Though the cold-ness isn’t always the nicest, the winter months are my favourite; steaming cups of tea, fluffy socks to keep my toes warm and just the general romance of this season…what’s not to love?! What about you, do you prefer summer or winter?

Until next time,

Lots of Love,

The Rajini-uninitiated watch Enthiran

So last night/this morning, Rajinikanth-Aishwarya Rai blockbuster “Enthiran” aired on Channel 4, in the UK.

For those who are new to Indian films, the whole breaking-out-into-songs-inexplicably and the crazy stunt scenes can be pretty baffling. However, if you are watching a Rajinikanth film for the first time, this bafflement will reach whole new levels. It’s hard to explain the awesomeness of Rajinikanth in one blog post. I suggest you wait until the release of The Rajini Effect, but until then, watch as many of his films as you can and I guarantee that
your mind will be blown.

As someone who is accustomed to all that a Rajini film throws your way, I still find myself being blown away by the increasing levels of insanity in each new Rajinikanth film, so I was pretty intrigued to see how the “uninitiated” would react (on Twitter), and I was not disappointed.

Below are my favourite responses to the sheer amazingness that is Enthiran…

And, my personal favourite:

Gotta love Rajinikanth.

Right, exams kick off Friday. I should get cracking with this whole revision thing.

Laters.

In the Limelight

Today I read this blog post, and…well, let’s just say I haven’t felt this angry in a while. If you can’t be bothered to read the blog post/related news articles, here’s a breakdown of what happened:

• Kannada actor Darshan was arrested for assaulting his wife (Vijayalakshmi) and threatening to kill their child, reportedly whilst drunk.
• Vijayalakshmi’s medical report suggested that she had sustained multiple injuries including cigarette burns and bruising. She also needed stitches.
• Vijayalakshmi filed a 5-page complaint against Darshan, in which she also stated that he had threatened her with a gun
• Darshan’s “loyal fans” were outraged at the allegations and called for his release by holding marches, and even by damaging local buses
• Well-known stars of the Kannada film industry got involved, showing their support for the actor.
• Some of these actors met the wife in hospital, and “pacified” her, persuading her to withdraw her complaint by assuring her that such an incident won’t happen again.
• Vijayalakshmi then withdrew her complaint, claiming that her injuries were the result of a fall in the bathroom
• The dispute was said to be due to a suspected affair between Darshan and actress Nikitha. As a result,  the Kannada Film Producers’ Association have banned Nikitha from acting for 3 years

That is the gist of what happened, and I don’t even know how to get my head around it.

[I have a lot to say, but I'm going to try and keep it as brief as possible.]

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What has the industry become? Why are the fans so disillusioned as to think it’s okay for their idol to carry out something like this? The fact that a group of them can come together to DEFEND such actions is beyond me. Is it purely because the guy is famous?

In this era which prides itself on the huge strides taken in the fight for gender equality, the fact that the “other woman” in this saga is the one who is punished by the industry is ridiculous. Darshan was physically abusive to someone. His wife, no less. Yet somehow, these people think an alleged affair is worse than landing someone in hospital? The affair is enough to ban Nikitha from working, but the assault doesn’t even warrant time in jail or a court case?

Several Kannada stars – one of whom is referred to as a “veteran” in this article – jump to the defence of the perpetrator, and persuade the wife to withdraw her complaint. How? By simply assuring her that she can blame them if it happens again. She shouldn’t have to fear it happening again…it shouldn’t even have happened in the first place.

These people live their lives in the limelight out of choice and should, in my opinion, have a sense of social/moral responsibility. This is inexcusable behaviour, and the fact that other famous personalities have stepped in to defend the incident suggests that they, in some way, think that it is acceptable.

Being a celebrity is something to be taken seriously. Everything you do will be captured, analysed and often mimicked by fans who worship the ground you walk on. As it is, the attitudes towards domestic violence in India are horrible. Add to that the fact that actors – who are the most worshipped / loved / revered of the celebrities in India – are going around trying to get an abusive colleague out of trouble, and you’re just helping society to regress. It’s bad enough that abuse (and also rape) is often distastefully glorified on-screen in these industries, but for these actions to be glorified like this in real life is something these people, and the industry as a whole should be ashamed of.

Delhi Belly – Film Review

Delhi Belly: 100-ish minutes of innuendos, diarrhoea and utter mayhem, whilst the air turns progressively more blue by the second. It’s clear that this film does not intend to cater to all types of people, and if you’re not a fan of swearing, fart jokes and crude sexual implications then be sure to steer clear.

In the same vein as by films such as “Lock, Stock…” and “Snatch”, the story revolves around Tashi (Imran Khan), Nitin (Kunaal Roy Kapur) and Arup (Vir Das) – 3 roommates who are struggling to pay the rent for their rundown apartment with a limited water supply. They get caught up in a dangerous situation when… read the rest of the review here. 

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