So Damn Cool

The phrase ‘So Damn Cool’ now has a new meaning in my friends’ and my own vocabulary. It stands for everything that WE think is a bit overdone, overacted, artificial, wannabe, outrageously corny, excsessively cool or simply so damn cool. This sentiment has increasingly become the most popular topic of discussion when we meet for lunch, dinner or even over a game of pool. So much, that most of the people who hear us have found it almost nauseating.

Gossip has always been the most popular pastime since the inception of speech. A globally accepted fact though widely rejected by the connoisseurs of good conduct.

But even others in favor of this despicable act have warned of the consequences when gossip becomes more of an analysis of every other person you know or who passes by you. Limits to the observation of a person’s behaviour, which do not concern you in any way, have never been defined. Hence, noone can actually object to such limits being breached. It’s a free world after all.

This leads me to a new idea… that the acid test of ‘so damn coolness’ is applicable to the ‘expert’ group too, ie. Us. Why do we categorize people so? What exactly is it that we find so different in people that we think exceeds what a normal person should have? Are we cool or raher un-cool enough?

The most plausible explanation woud be that we have set ourselves as the benchmark of ‘never too excessive’ and gauge every one in comparison with this standard. Which leads me to two possible conclusions: we are either at the lowest rung in the ‘cool’ rating to find everyone ‘so damn’ or, if not, there are other people who consider us so damn cool. Both of these come down hard on my self-esteem and Boy! That hurts! Ergo, I have stopped seeking explanations.

This is not an act of redemption and it definitely does not mark the end of the era of So Damnness. This, is simply my point of view on the whole issue which has seemed to bother too many people. There are different ways of expressing the way you feel about things you detest and maybe even the things you wished you could do. This is probably just our way of underlining OUR freedom of expression.

"Momma said don't talk to Strangers....."

The title song of 'Ek Ajnabee-Don't talk to strangers' is much like the rest of the movie - highly irrelevant and unnecessary, yet stylish. The movie is Bachchan all the way with a potentially strong role by Arjun Rampal being beaten to pulp for absolutely no reason!
The story, based in Bangkok, is about a poor-little-rich-girl who finds a friend and swimming instructor in her bodygaurd, Bachchan, who has frequent dark nightmares of war where he had a bad time and stuff like that. According to what seems to be the fundamental law for all rich little kids in Bangkok, the girl gets kidnapped and AB lands in the hospital with 3 bullets after, of course, gunning down five of the goons. The girl apparently dies because of some stupid cop and even stupid pop.
The rest of the story is a winding process of seek and destroy which Bachchan performs with expected ease and some hilarious methods. Worth mentioning is the fact that a guy literally has a bomb up his ass! No kidding! Thankfully they did not show the explosives being placed.
What takes the cake is the last 15 seconds bit that was simply out of the world. The story moves in 15 years later with Big B still looking the same but the girl has grown into Lara Dutta! And there is more....
All in all, the plot was ludicrously base and the frequent freeze frames (one every 5 seconds! ) were a pain. But the gracious Big B manages to salvage himself simply because of his unbeatable style.

Moral: if u can manage to get Amitabh Bachchan as a bodygaurd and if you can swim, then you will come out of the pool, after 15 years, as Lara Dutta and you will also get Abhishhek Bachchan as your new bodygaurd absolutely free!




• you oughta know