July 9, 2012 – Smriti "Simmi" D. Isaac

Posted on July 9, 2012January 19, 2013 by Simmi D. Isaac — Leave a comment

Well Done, Abba, 2010

Did I mention that I once stood in line behind Boman Irani, the actor, in a Starbucks on Broadway in NYC and tentatively said to him, “Excuse me, but are you the Bollywood actor?” To which he replied, “Yes, my name is Boman Irani.” Needless to say, shaking hands with celebrity has the universal effect of being in awe of doing just that, and also needless to say, it begets the tendency of becoming a follower of the person’s work.

But truth be told, I wasn’t even aware of this movie of Mr. Irani’s that apparently came out two years ago– most likely around the same time that I had my little celebrity encounter! And so, two years later, it was very pleasant to stumble onto this offbeat film starring Boman Irani in the lead role. And I’m very glad that I did– not just because I met the man (and was momentarily in awe of him!), but also because it is a truly funny movie that is a pointedly tongue-in-cheek satire on the state of affairs in India, in particular on the multi-layered corruption that permeates everything and everyone. The other reason I found it highly entertaining is owing to the fact that Mr. Irani’s character skillfully portrays the Hyderabadi style of Hindi or Deccani speech and mannerisms.

The director, Shyam Benegal, is a much respected Indian filmmaker, known more for his non-commercial films from the 80s, and it is therefore quite remarkable and refreshing to see a quality production from him after a long time. Incidentally, I happen to have another personal story linked to Mr. Benegal as well, or rather, to his wife, I must say. At the wedding of my aunt, it seems that Mrs. Benegal spotted me and remarked to someone that “Shyam would be delighted to put her in his movies.” Well, I was all of fifteen, and that idea was never pursued at that time or later, but it certainly made for a good story!

But back to this one, it is both entertaining and also sadly thought-provoking in how something as essential as running water cannot be considered a given amenity; rather, it is to be fought for tooth and nail and with all the wherewithal one can muster with an establishment that couldn’t care less about one’s welfare. Such is the case in many a small village in India, and the hope is that a movie like this one will bring to the fore in a satirical manner the gross atrocities of corrupt governments and those who run them.

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Simmi D. Isaac — Leave a comment

An Anniversary Dinner, Thai-Style

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Simmi D. Isaac — Leave a comment

On This Day: July 9

Updated July 8, 2012, 2:28 pm

On July 9, 1896, William Jennings Bryan caused a sensation at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago with his “cross of gold” speech denouncing supporters of the gold standard. Bryan went on to win the party’s nomination.

Go to article »

On July 9, 1929, Hassan II, who ruled Morocco from 1961 to 1999, was born. Following his death on July 23, 1999, his obituary appeared in The Times.

Go to obituary » | Other birthdays »

On This Date

By The Associated Press

1776 The Declaration of Independence was read aloud to Gen. George Washington’s troops in New York.

1816 Argentina declared independence from Spain.

1850 Zachary Taylor, the 12th president of the United States, died in Washington, D.C., after serving only 16 months in office.

1896 William Jennings Bryan denounced supporters of the gold standard with his “cross of gold” speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

1974 Former Chief Justice Earl Warren died at age 83.

1992 Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton tapped Sen. Al Gore of Tennessee to be his running mate.

1995 The rock band the Grateful Dead played their last concert, at Soldier Field in Chicago, after a 30-year run, much of it spent on the road. (Lead guitarist Jerry Garcia died the following month.)

1997 Boxer Mike Tyson was banned from the ring and fined $3 million for biting opponent Evander Holyfield’s ear.

2002 The baseball All-Star game in Milwaukee finished in a 7-7 tie after 11 innings when both teams ran out of pitchers.

2004 A Senate Intelligence Committee report concluded the CIA had provided unfounded assessments of the threat posed by Iraq that the Bush administration relied on to justify going to war.

2011 South Sudan became the world’s newest nation, officially breaking away from Sudan after two civil wars over five decades that had cost millions of lives.

Current Birthdays

By The Associated Press

Actor Tom Hanks turns 56 years old today.

AP Photo/Evan Agostini

Actor Chris Cooper turns 61 years old today.

AP Photo/Evan Agostini

1927 Ed Ames, Actor, singer, turns 85

1932 Donald Rumsfeld, Former defense secretary, turns 80

1938 Brian Dennehy, Actor, turns 74

1942 Richard Roundtree, Actor, turns 70

1945 Dean Koontz, Author, turns 67

1947 O.J. Simpson, Football Hall of Famer, turns 65

1952 John Tesh, Musician, TV personality, turns 60

1955 Jimmy Smits, Actor, turns 57

1955 Lindsey Graham, U.S. senator, R-S.C., turns 57

1957 Kelly McGillis, Actress, turns 55

1959 Jim Kerr, Rock singer (Simple Minds), turns 53

1964 Courtney Love, Rock singer, turns 48

1971 Scott Grimes, Actor, turns 41

1973 Enrique Murciano, Actor (“Without a Trace”), turns 39

1975 Jack White, Rock musician (The White Stripes), turns 37

1976 Fred Savage, Actor (“The Wonder Years”), turns 36

Historic Birthdays

Hassan II 7/9/1929 – 7/23/1999 Moroccan king (1961-99)Go to obituary »

40 Thomas De La Warr 7/9/1577 – 6/7/1618
English official; one of the founders of the Virginia colony

48 Thomas Davenport 7/9/1802 – 7/6/1851
American inventor; developed successful electric motor

48 Elias Howe 7/9/1819 – 10/3/1867
American inventor of the sewing machine

56 Ottorino Respighi 7/9/1879 – 4/18/1936
Italian composer

66 Mikhail Borodin 7/9/1884 – 5/29/1951
Russian Comintern agent

88 Samuel Eliot Morison 7/9/1887 – 5/15/1976
American biographer and historian

67 Dorothy Thompson 7/9/1893 – 1/30/1961
American journalist and writer

92 Albert Wedemeyer 7/9/1897 – 12/17/1989
American military leader during W. W. II

87 Carmen Franco 7/9/1900 – 2/6/1988
Spanish consort of Francisco Franco

57 Mervyn Peake 7/9/1911 – 11/17/1968
English novelist, poet, playwright and illustrator

89 Edward Heath 7/9/1916 – 7/17/2005
British prime minister (1970-1974)

1776	The Declaration of Independence was read aloud to Gen. George Washington’s troops in New York.
1816	Argentina declared independence from Spain.
1850	Zachary Taylor, the 12th president of the United States, died in Washington, D.C., after serving only 16 months in office.
1896	William Jennings Bryan denounced supporters of the gold standard with his “cross of gold” speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
1974	Former Chief Justice Earl Warren died at age 83.
1992	Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton tapped Sen. Al Gore of Tennessee to be his running mate.
1995	The rock band the Grateful Dead played their last concert, at Soldier Field in Chicago, after a 30-year run, much of it spent on the road. (Lead guitarist Jerry Garcia died the following month.)
1997	Boxer Mike Tyson was banned from the ring and fined $3 million for biting opponent Evander Holyfield’s ear.
2002	The baseball All-Star game in Milwaukee finished in a 7-7 tie after 11 innings when both teams ran out of pitchers.
2004	A Senate Intelligence Committee report concluded the CIA had provided unfounded assessments of the threat posed by Iraq that the Bush administration relied on to justify going to war.
2011	South Sudan became the world’s newest nation, officially breaking away from Sudan after two civil wars over five decades that had cost millions of lives.

1927	Ed Ames, Actor, singer, turns 85
1932	Donald Rumsfeld, Former defense secretary, turns 80
1938	Brian Dennehy, Actor, turns 74
1942	Richard Roundtree, Actor, turns 70
1945	Dean Koontz, Author, turns 67
1947	O.J. Simpson, Football Hall of Famer, turns 65
1952	John Tesh, Musician, TV personality, turns 60
1955	Jimmy Smits, Actor, turns 57
1955	Lindsey Graham, U.S. senator, R-S.C., turns 57
1957	Kelly McGillis, Actress, turns 55
1959	Jim Kerr, Rock singer (Simple Minds), turns 53
1964	Courtney Love, Rock singer, turns 48
1971	Scott Grimes, Actor, turns 41
1973	Enrique Murciano, Actor (“Without a Trace”), turns 39
1975	Jack White, Rock musician (The White Stripes), turns 37
1976	Fred Savage, Actor (“The Wonder Years”), turns 36

40	Thomas De La Warr 7/9/1577 – 6/7/1618 English official; one of the founders of the Virginia colony
48	Thomas Davenport 7/9/1802 – 7/6/1851 American inventor; developed successful electric motor
48	Elias Howe 7/9/1819 – 10/3/1867 American inventor of the sewing machine
56	Ottorino Respighi 7/9/1879 – 4/18/1936 Italian composer
66	Mikhail Borodin 7/9/1884 – 5/29/1951 Russian Comintern agent
88	Samuel Eliot Morison 7/9/1887 – 5/15/1976 American biographer and historian
67	Dorothy Thompson 7/9/1893 – 1/30/1961 American journalist and writer
92	Albert Wedemeyer 7/9/1897 – 12/17/1989 American military leader during W. W. II
87	Carmen Franco 7/9/1900 – 2/6/1988 Spanish consort of Francisco Franco
57	Mervyn Peake 7/9/1911 – 11/17/1968 English novelist, poet, playwright and illustrator
89	Edward Heath 7/9/1916 – 7/17/2005 British prime minister (1970-1974)