Review of Hi I am Tony

Review of Hi I am Tony

Directed by :Lal Jr
Starring :Asif Ali, Lal, Mia , Lena and Biju Menon
Music: Deepak Dev
Cinematography: Alby
Rating : 2/5

The movie starts with the usual 'new generation' kind of a scene seeing which my mind sank and wondered how am will I finish seeing the movie. But, fortunately that scene ended very fast. But from then the actual movie starts. Asif Ali *Sameer) and Mia (Tina) moves to a highly luxurious apartment of the builder 'achayan' played by Biju Menon. In the huge multi-storeyed flat, this one on the top floor alone is furnished and inhabited. Achayan offers the flat to Sameer & Tina who have to stay in this flat and campaign the buyers. Sameer and Tina enters the flat with so much of excitement and also they got married (registered) that same day. They decide to go out for a small shopping at night and while returning, their car gets hit by Lal's (Tony Kurishingal) car. Later, at night, while the couple plans to celebrate their first night, they get a knock at the door and get shocked to see Tony who introduces himself as 'Hi, I am Tony'. Later the film revolves around these three people and the terrors that happen with the arrival of Tony into their flat.

The terror element that the director has tried to induce has come pretty well but a little over exaggerated. Tony resembeled Undertaker in the wwe (Joking). Even after so much of tortures, beating up, throwing down, shooting, etc etc, these characters still have so much of enery to fight again. I wonder whether those characters are real human beings or not! Especially Tony is incredibly strong. Lena don't occupy much screen time except a few foggy flash back scenes.

Watch this film if you love to see so much of terror and violence (without any point). Otherwise, if you are among those who thinks logically, please avoid this one. The film turned out to be a real terror!!!!! Thank you dear director!!!

An Unusual Dream

An Unusual Dream

A long forgotten incident of my childhood came into my dream a few days back. The visuals I had in my dream was very vivid. It was quite surprising for me since it was one such incident which was not at all significant for me now. And I never had recollected that in the near past. Fine..A mere coincidence. Thats all!!! I din't have time to waste thinking about that dream again. I had my exams, project viva, dance programs and the list goes unending. As usual, after one day, I totally forgot about that dream. But again, I saw it. I mean the same dream again. And it came to me again and again and again until it started to bother me, disturb me. Then, I felt it as a reminder for me on a buried past.

Now, let me turn the pages to a chapter which happened in my life more than 2 decades back. I was 2 or 3 then. I am not exactly certain about my age. From my mother I knew that I was a very dreamy kind of girl. But that doesn't mean, I was very silent, immersed in my dream and my world. Certainly not! I was too talkative and too active always troubling my parents with my bubbling energy. But my parents found something unusual in my behavior especially in my talks. I always used to mention about a friend named 'appu' to them. And I didn't have any Appu in my class. That increased the worry of my parents. They consulted their doctor friend about my Appu and the doctor made a final convincing statement that it is very normal for kids to create 'imaginary friends'. Anyhow, that relived my parents and they too started to talk to Appu through me believing that Appu is a creation of my genius brain. Gradually, they won in convincing me that Appu never existed at all and was a mere creation of my creative mind. Whatever, even I got convinced sooner or later, and gradually Appu disappeared from my life and eventually even the memory of Appu vanished completely from me.

But, in the dream I saw Appu very clearly as before. All his features, eyes, smile everything came vivid into my memory again. But, the peculiarity about this particular dream is that I could not recollect Appu once I wake up. I just know that I saw Appu very clearly, but, I don't remember how he appeared. That really troubled me. I generally remember most of my dreams even after waking up. But, this one, even though I see this same dream frequently, I can't recollect. What a phenomenon!! I wish, I had the ability to draw so that I could at least recreate whatever vague memory I have about Appu. 

Later, I started seeing this incident as something which required more attention rather than again discarding it as my creative imagination. I discussed about this with my parents again. But they too seemed to have forgotten about the minute details I used to say about Appu. I started searching, reading and discussing about dreams and childhood imaginations. Then, somehow I started believing that Appu was not my creation and what if there really existed an Appu whom I could see, talk and play with.  I don't know. I still don't know. 

But, the most painful part is that, I stopped having Appu's dreams now. Appu again disappeared without giving me any notice as before.  Unfortunately, I am not able to recollect any details of the dream now. He could have been a spirit, an ET, a multidimensional astral traveler, whoever be, please my dear Appu, I wish to see you again. Waiting eagerly to meet Appu again.

Hibiscus Tea

Hibiscus Tea

This herbal tea which can be easily made at home has several medicinal effects and is really good for health. During this monsoon, have a sip of hot hibiscus tea and enjoy the rain!!!

Ingredients:

1. Red hibiscus flowers (any color can be used, but red ones give better color to the tea)....10
2. green tea powder...........................................................................................................3 table spoon
3. cinnamon........................................................................................................................50 gms
4. cardamom......................................................................................................................50 gms
5. cloves............................................................................................................................ 50 gms
6. crushed pepper...............................................................................................................50 gms
7. water..............................................................................................................................4 cups
8. honey/sugar....................................................................................................................1 table spoon

Method of Preparation:

1. Cut the hibiscus flower petals (only the soft part of the petal)
2. In a steel/glass container, add the cut flower petals and all the other ingredients (2-6)
3. Add boiled water to it
4. Keep aside for 8-10 hrs
5. After that, drain the mixture and add sugar/honey before serving
6. It can be served either hot or cold
7. Flavors and ingredients of your choice can also be added at this stage

Enjoy Cooking!!!!

Punjabi Rajma Masala in Kerala Style

Punjabi Rajma Masala in Kerala Style

This is an experimental dish which came out to be really mouth-watering!!!! Do try this dish and please share your views....

Ingredients:

Rajma.......................250 gms ( soaked in water for 6-8 hours )
Small Onions.............15
Tomato......................3
Ginger.garlic paste......1 table spoon
Jeera..........................1 table spoon
Green Chillies.............2
Turmeric powder........1/2 table spoon
Chilly powder.............1/2 table spoon
Pepper powder...........1/2 table spoon
Coriander Powder.......1/2 table spoon
Garam Masala.............1 table spoon
Salt..............................as required
Coconut oil..................as required
Curry leaves.................a few
Cinnamon.....................2
Cloves........................2

Preparation:

1. Finely chop the small onions, tomatoes and green chilies
2. Grind it to a paste
3. Cook the rajma in a pressure cooker by adding salt and garam masala

Cooking:

1. Heat the pan and pour a little oil to it and add jeera
2.  Add the ground paste to the pan
3. Add turmeric powder, chilly powder, coriander powder, pepper powder and salt
4. To this mixture, add the cooked rajma
5. Add the water used for cooking rajma to the pan as required for the gravy
6. Cook for 5 mins
7. Switch off the flame, and then add the cinnamom and cloves to it
8. Also crush the curry leaves using hand and add to the curry and pour some raw coconut oil to it

Now, the kerala style rajma curry is ready to be served.....

It goes well with rice and roti...

Enjoy Cooking!!!!

Sweet Corn Mutter Rice

Sweet Corn Mutter Rice 


Preparation Time: 5 min
Cooking Time     : 20 mins
Serves 3-4 people

Ingredients:

Jeera rice or Basmati rice.........................1 cup
Sweet Corn.............................................100gms
Mutter (Green Peas)................................100gms
Big Onion (chopped as small pieces)........2
Big Onion (finely chopped length wise).....1
Ginger Garlic paste..................................1/2 table spoon
Bay leaf...................................................1
Jeera.......................................................1/2 table spoon
Salt..........................................................to taste
Garam Masala powder............................1/2 table spoon
Ghee........................................................as required
Cinnamon................................................2
Cloves.....................................................5
Cashew nut..............................................100gms
Kishmis....................................................100 gms
Coriander Leaves.....................................a few
Water.......................................................2 cups

Preparation:

1. Saute the cashew nuts and kishmis in ghee and keep it aside
2. Deep fry very finely copped big onion in ghee and keep aside

Cooking:

1. Pour ghee to the hot pressure cooker and add bay leaf, jeera and ginger garlic paste
2. Add the big onions and salt
3. Later add the green peas and sweet corn and stir for 3 mins
4. To this add garam masala powder, cinnamon and cloves
5. Pour 2 cups of water and stir well
6. Add 1 cup of rice to it
7. Close the lid of the pressure cooker and wait for a single whistle in low flame or 3 whistles in high flame
8. Once the pressure cooker's lid is opened, serve it to the dish for serving
9. Garnish with coriander leaves, cahew nuts, kishmis and the deep fried onions

Now the Sweet corn mutter rice is ready to be served!!!!!

It can be accompanied with any side dishes with gravy or with simply picke, salad and pappad...

Enjoy Cooking!!!!!

Sweet Corn Paneer Mutter Masala Recipe

Sweet Corn Paneer Mutter Masala Recipe


Preparation Time: 5 Mins
Cooking Time     : 15 Mins
Serves                 : 3-4 persons

This is a very simple and easy recipe. It is also a very healthy side dish since it uses paneer, mutter, tomato and sweet corn.

Ingredients:

Paneer.........................100gms
Muttor (Green Peas)....50gms
Frozen Sweet Corn......50gms
Big Onions...................2
Tomato........................4
Ginger Garlic Paste.......1/2 table spoon
Jeera............................1/2 table spoon
Oil................................as required
Salt...............................to taste
Turmeric Powder..........1/4 table spoon
Red Chilly Powder........1/2 table spoon
Kashmiri Chilly Powder.1/2 table spoon
Coriander Powder.........1/2 table spoon
Garam Masala Powder..1/2 table spoon
Sugar.............................a pinch
Butter.............................25 gms
Cream............................3 table spoon
Bay leaf..........................1
Coriander Leaves............to taste

Preparation:
1. Cut onions as small pieces
2. Prepare tomato puree

Cooking:
1. Add a little 15gms butter or oil to the hot pan
2. Add the ginger garlic paste, bay leaf, jeera and onions to the pan
3. Add a pinch of salt to it and saute till the onions become translucent
4. To this add the the sweet corn and mutter and saute for 1 min
5. Later add the paneer cubes to the pan
6. Add turmeric powder, red chilly powder, kashmiri chilly powder, garam masala and coriander powder
7. Once it is well stirred, pour the tomato puree to the pan
8. Cook in low flame till it starts to boil.
9. Add a pinch of sugar (optional)
10. Pour some fresh cream and keep in low flame for 1 min (optional if u don't want extra calories)
11. Garnish with coriander leaves and also the remaining butter

Now the delicious Sweet corn mutter paneer masala is ready to be served!!!!!
This goes well as a side dish with rotis as well as rice!!!!

See the next blog to see the recipe of Sweet corn mutter Rice.....

Enjoy Cooking!!!

Loka Vayana Dinam (The World Reading Day)

Today is World Reading Day. I am thinking about my childhood days when I used to wait for my mother to buy me a new book. She is an avid reader. So whenever she bought books for her, she used to get a few for me too. And usually since I din't know how to read then , she used to read those beautiful stories to me at bedtime. The words, the beautiful narration all these gave wings to my imagination and I still can recollect those beautiful colorful visuals I had in each of her stories. I wonder at the strength of words. The imagination those words create on each person is different. And that is one dreamy visual which each one have in private and which can't be shared.

While I was in class 1, I read a book alone for the first time without the help of my mother. That book is named 'The Little Match girl'. I don't remember the author's name. But the great visuals the words in the book gave me at that small age is still vivid in my mind. A girl selling matchsticks at freezing cold weather of a Christmas Eve. The poor girl sees the celebrations in rich houses. But, she can't go home without finishing her sale of matchsticks since her step mother will scold her. There, she lays at the doorstep of one big mansion and dreams about her past loving grandmother. She lightens matchsticks one by one to see the face of her granny clearly. Once she lightens her final matchstick, her granny asks her to come. And happily the little girl holds her dearest granny,s hands and moves away from all her sufferings. I still remember the tears I have shed for that little girl. I strongly feel, whatsoever empathy that remains in my heart now is from listening to stories and reading books. Words have the magical power to make us stand on the shoes of others, feel other's emotions, see life from a different viewing angle, to know about different cultures and civilizations.

Seeing a movie also creates a long lasting visual in mind. In a film, the visual is created and that same visual strikes everyone who sees that movie. But a book makes each one create his/her own visuals which in my opinion is the greatness of reading.

I wish everyone gets the opportunity to read beautiful books. Wishing the world a wonderful reading day.