Kamdev, the desi cupid

Valentines Day has become too commercial in every country it exists in, including India and the U.S. In India, it is also a reason for protests. Something they both agree on…(In 2006), hard-line Hindu groups and radical Muslims burned Valentine's Day greeting cards and held protests across India against celebrating the festival of love, saying it was a Western import that spread immorality. So the hardliners have started protesting already.

On the other hand, Indian firms export a record 100 million stems of roses this year, which is worth $ 80 billion. D Damas, a jewelry company, is having Valentine’s specials.

In my opinion, Valentine’s Day lacks any essence of sanctity for any religion but commercialism. Even so, I bought myself a bag of Lindt chocolates. I figures “it’s all about loving yourself.” So I took that from Karan Johar.


"When Indians do something they tend to overdo it." Valentine's Day is fuel that gives the local gundas the power to bug the women in the neighborhood. If only the hardliners were out there detering these type of crimes instead of trying to stop those celebrating Valentine's day in a peaceful manner.

Eklavya - The Royal Guard

The Vidhu Vinod Chopra film releases this Friday, February 16, 2007. I am attending the Washington DC premiere.

Although I cannot find any information, the film's music has not been released. Evenso, they keep showing "Chanda Re" on the television. It's a beatiful song composed by music director, Shantanu Moitra.

Something about Chopra making the film on his own terms and the music not being released for this film, I'm guessing. When I say I can't find anything about the music anywhere, I mean anywhere.

Amitabh Bachchan (1.5 years ago) said in his interview in Koffee with Karan, that at his age, it is hard to get film centered around him. Since Indian films always have a younger lead actor and actress. So I guess, he gets his chance in Eklavya (besides Black that is). The usual Vidhu Vinod Chopra actors are within the movie, Jackie Shroff, Saif Ali Khan, Sunjay Dutt, Vidya Balan, Raima Sen, Boman Irani, and Jimmy Shergill. The only person that seems to be missing is Dia Mirza. Maybe she has a special appearance I don't know about.

I did not go to see Salaam-E-Ishq, but will venture out for this one. It looks like its going to be an entertainer. I must add VVC to the list of directors, I really really like. Already on the list: Raj Kumar Santoshi, Mahesh Bhatt, Nagesh Kukunoor, VVC

New PayPal Promotion

I guess this is PayPal's answer to the Google Checkout promotion. If you use PayPal to pay for $30 or more purchase they will credit your PayPal account with $15.

$15 off $30 purchase using PayPal

Registration. You must first register for this offer on http://paypal.promotionexpert.com/greatshopping/signup/index.html using your PayPal account's primary email address.

Single Purchase. Once registered for this offer, you must use your PayPal account to spend at least $30.00 USD or $34.50 CAD on a single purchase on an eligible website.

Eligible Website. You must make a purchase on www.eBay.com, www.eBay.ca or any United States or Canadian website that accepts PayPal. Purchases on www.eBay.com and www.eBay.ca must be made through the eBay checkout flow via the eBay website and must not be made through the PayPal Send Money tab.

Promotion Period. Purchases must be made between February 8, 2007 12:01 AM PST and March 31, 2007 11:59 PM PST.

Excluded Transactions. The following transactions are excluded from this offer: Send Money transactions, payments to Personal Accounts, eBay payments made to Personal Accounts, donations, PayPal Mobile transactions, payments for services, Virtual Debit Card payments, PayPal ATM/ Debit Card payments, payments made when you are not logged into your PayPal account, and PayPal Plus Credit Card payments not made through your PayPal account.

Rebate Payment. The $15.00 USD rebate will be deposited into your PayPal account by May 28, 2007. If you made your purchase in Canadian Dollars you will receive the Canadian Dollar equivalent of $15.00 USD at the day of the rebate payment.

Limitations. Limit one registration and one $15.00 USD rebate per PayPal Account. Offer available for a limited time. Offer is limited to PayPal users in the United States and Canada. PayPal account must be in good standing prior to and throughout the offer period to qualify.

Ads Vying for the Indian Spending Power

With nearly $254 billion in annual buying power, Asian Americans are a powerful force in the U.S. consumer market. Over the past decade, their spending power has increased 125%, from $118 billion in 1990 to $253 billion in 2001. Over the same time period, the buying power for the U.S. as a whole increased by only 71%.

Source

This is probably why I'm seeing a lot of Ads being geared towards the Desi viewer lately.

Before the K-Fed Superbowl ads, Nationwide Insurance had the South-Asian centric ads on Desi Channels...these are my favorites (meaning there are more).
My Fav: Uncle Ko Bye Bolo


Others-
Mirror Mirror On the Wall

Hi, Cutie, Hello, Beauty

Nationwide isn't the first, but they are better to watch than the ones I've seen done before by New York Life Insurance, Wal-Mart, or others.

Facts and Figures
More Asian-Indian Americans (58%) hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, versus all Asian Americans (47%) and the U.S. population (27%).

The Honeymoon Chronicles

2007 will see the release of two "Honeymoon" films..one is Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. (HTPL) and the other is called Just Married.
Just Married is directed by Meghna Gulzar (Filhaal) and produced by Pritish Nandy Communications (Pyar Ke Side Effects).

They will be released a week apart from each other, if dates stay the same. Both are about a bunch of couples going on their honeymoon together. Both seem to have an older couple within a group. HTPL seems like an ensemble whereas Just Married seems to have a lead pair, Fardeen Khan and Esha Deol.

Remember when there were two movies about Bagat Singh releasing at the same time. One was with Ajay Devgan and the other was with Bobby Deol. The Ajay Devgan was a lot better and it was directed by Raj Kumar Santoshi. I guess I might be biased I think Ajay Devgan is a more powerful actor than Bobby.

My pick and why?
HTPL! I like the whole ensemble thing. I like how no one seems to be taking the limelight. Well Just Married is produced by PNC but still I'm going for HTPL. HTPL has a bunch of actors I would love to watch Dia Mirza, Sandhya Mridul, Ranvir Shorey, Amisha Patel, Kay Kay Menon. I'm no big fan of Fardeen Khan and I have a feeling he is going to ruin the movie-going experience for me.

Best Quotes of my Life

Update: "Some guys are confused with the entry and exit signs" - CJ Sheth and his comments on homosexuality.

I'm in class when a female classmate is about to chew sugar-free gum, when another male classmates tells her how Saccharin is known to cause cancer in laboratory animals. To this, the female classmate retorts, "Well, they shouldn't be testing on animals anyways."

On the discovery that Jains make up less than 2% of Indians, one of my friends states to our Jain friend, "There are more ants in India than Jains."

My cousin, Priyanki, on how much a girl's looks has changed, "Her hair used to be curly as pubic hair." There are no words to speak as to how stupidly funny this has to be.

One of my friends, Vishal, explains why another friend, who is married, is doing Gauri Vrat, which is done by unmarried woman to get a good husband, "for the next one." (second husband)

Commenting on Friendster turning off the ability of people to know when you have viewed their profile, Vishal explains why he left his on, "I want people to know I'm viewing them."

During our 'Tabboo' tournament, the 'hidden' word was "Allowance" and the clue given was. "What American kids got that we (Indian or Desis if you will) didn't get?" To this Vivek shouts, "Disease!" What was he thinking??!!

Best Quotes from Celebrity Big Brother 2007

Jermaine on Jackiey and her musical bottom, as it made music all night long - "Oh my God. I've been inhaling someone's ass."

"They're saying I pronounce Dirk's name as duck," giggled Shilpa, "Duck Benedict. It sounds like a dish."

Dirk on Jackiey's farting: "Don't strike a match, we'll all blow up"

In response to Donny's "You're Dirk F*****' Benedict", Dirk says: "I rarely use my middle name"

On seeing Ken's package, Danielle informs everyone, "I've just seen Ken's meat and two vege."

"I can't understand your name," Jackie protested, but a frustrated Shilpa shot back: "It's Shilpa. It's not a sentence, it's a fricking name."

Carole postulated, "Her [Jackiey's] talking is, I suspect, worse than the farting."


Outside of the House
UK Chancellor Gordon Brown: "I want Britain to be seen as a country of fairness and tolerance. Anything detracting from this I condemn."

Indian Minister for External Affairs Anand Sharma: ''It has caused indignation, it is most unfortunate, and any kind of racism - or racist slur - is unacceptable in any civilised society.''