Renewing vehicle registration / fitness certificate

I own a Santro car, that has been immaculately maintained ever since I bought it in 2003. Love the car.

While trying to renew the car's insurance, I was told that I would need to renew the vehicle registration (or RC book as its commonly known), since the registration validity is only for 15 years.

So here's what I went through. Hope it helps anyone who want to renew their registration. It's also called the fitness certificate.

1. I went to the RTO website and noted down the requirements, listed here.

2. I first called the RTO (Yelahanka) to find out if this could be done online. They said no, I need to go there in person, along with my car. And that the process takes about 30 minutes.

3. So I went on a Monday morning, and the whole process took about three hours. And it was exasperating!

4. There's always somethings they never tell you upfront. They materialize slowly.

5. First, one needs a 'paper file' to keep all the documents in one place. On the cover of the file, mention your name, phone number and vehicle number.

6. Then you submit this file at the cashier and make the payment. Only cash. I paid about Rs. 2,300

7. Then I was told that I need a photo of me with the car. So, I took one on my mobile, went to a shop close by and took a print out. The car number has to be visible in the photo.

8. Then you have to wait for the inspector to check the fitness of the car. This wait is a while.

9. The inspector checks for basic things like lights, indicators, windows, etc

10. Here comes the second 'new' requirement. On the application form, one needs to pencil imprint the chassis number. I had to find a pencil and skill to do it.

11. Only after this did they accept the file and give me an acknowledgement.

The whole process took 3 hours. No wonder people go to touts to get this done. If the process is set up efficiently, it should not take more than 15 minutes. But hey, this is India, where process inefficiency rules the roost!

The England Test Series 2018

In November 2017, I'd written how important 2018 was for Indian cricket.  Here's a follow-up.

Well, the first of those tours happened in March - South Africa. And India was in a winning position in all the three tests, but managed to win only one, to ultimately lose the series 2-1. The other two matches we lost were purely down to focus and match awareness.

So, the tally for 2018 stands at LLW. 2 wins and 1 loss.

We are now at the cusp of the second big series this year, England. The prospect is mouth-watering, with a full 5 match series, perhaps for the very first time.

I think our batting will be alright, but the concern for me is the bowling, especially the fast bowlers. With Bumrah and Bhuvi down with injuries, we're left with the lower capabilities of Ishant, Shami and Umesh.

Having said that, my prediction for the series? 2-2 after 4 tests with the 5th being a decider. Watch this space if my prediction comes true!

Review of Sanju

Third good movie in a row in 2018! But I call 'Sanju' a good movie without conviction. It's been a week since I saw Sanju (twice), and I've been grappling with myself on how should this movie be rated. While sipping ginger-laced chai on my balcony, it finally dawned on me.

To begin with, the movie has many flaws:

• There are very few scenes that Ranbir actually looks or acts like Sanjay Dutt. The rest is our own imagination
• The make up to make Sanju look old is hilarious. That's what happens when make-up is made out
• The editing is shoddy at times. 
• Winnie the ice babe suddenly becomes Winnie the weeper. Come on, don't take us for granted.
• I understand Hirani's brand of humour (making light of serious situations), but the Boman Irani dead body scene crosses the line, and the background slapstick score makes it worse
• This was the 80s-90s, not the 50s-60s. I just didn't understand why they insisted on costumes from a period much before the story's period. I guess they couldn't figure what costumes to use. Camera filters perhaps would have done the trick.

Sorry Mr. Hirani. I had to point these out. But, in spite of these shortcomings, I will still label this movie good, but not brilliant. Why good? 

At a high-level, this is a 'fighting-all-odds' movie, therefore inspirational. At a lower level, I think each one of us connects with Sanjay Dutt in one way or the other. For a teenager,  it's Munnabhai. For the 20-somethings, it's Vaastav. And you can keep rewinding to Khalnayak, Saajan and Rocky. We all somehow know this bloke, and of course who wouldn't want to know about what really happened. That's one way the audience is hooked. 

On another plane, this movie tugs at your curious heart, one through the father and the other through the friend. And there you have a formula. A winning one at that.

I wonder how someone who doesn't know Sanju Baba at all will react to this movie. Know anyone like that?

Review of Veere di Wedding

Two good movies in as many weeks! Bollywood, what's gotten into you! And both female oriented, and, and, away from the regular formula.

I loved the movie totally. Not that there's a feminine bone in me, but finally, here's something that allows the Indian woman to express herself, without being melodramatic or serious about it (think about all the female oriented movies of yore - Khoon Bhari Maang, Mother India, vgh, vgh). There's a certain nonchalance about the 4 central characters, which made for wonderful viewing.

There's no story or script as such, but the mini-plots and the dialogues make for a nice freeflow. I loved Swara and the Talsania girl (is she Tiku's something?). Kareena looked as if she was underpaid and I've never liked Sonam anyway (although she didn't giggle that much).

Watching all the expletives and gestures (read middle fingers), I wonder, why aren't there female-oriented gaalis or gestures? MC, BC and BSDK are men oriented, as well as the middle finger. Why not have BaapC, BhaiC, Luv-Diye, etc? And why not have the index finger curled against a straight middle finger, making a slit? Maybe this movie will inspire the next gen bichches to coin/create a few?

And finally, my Oscar for this movie goes to the hazed-out purple di--do which epitomized the message, 'when you can't baby, I can!' I know it offended many, but it's time we break ourselves from imaginary shackles. Watch it, if you haven't.

21st century infrastructure?

What does this picture look like to you? Infrastructure for the 'Silicon Valley of the East'? Infrastructure for a 'Global City'? Infrastructure of the capital of a state? Infrastructure of a '21st century Indian City'?

None of the above. How shambolic is this? I mean, when it rains, the power is cut off. And with this creaking, dilapidated infrastructure, how can we be called a modern and progressive city.

Hope some official takes his/her time off filling their coffers and takes action.

Review of 'Raazi'

I've always maintained that when Bollywood veers away from its 'boy-meets-girl' formula (which is 99% of the time), the result is usually good. Raazi is no exception.

Alia Bhatt is a seriously good actor. After Highway and Udta Punjab, Raazi gives her the opportunity of displaying her fine acting skills. The star of the movie, however, is the script and the screenplay. Tight, taut and without falling into the danger of anti-Pakistan jingoism. The film craftfully maintains this fine balance of catering to a largely Indian audience and at the same time, not rubbishing the old enemy.

I was also impressed with Jaideep Ahlawat, as the Indian handler. Emotionless, strong, yet with a soft understated interior, this fellow can act. The large glasses I think gave him the look required for this role. I'd seen him in GoW (Shahid Khan), but it is this performance that should be a turning point for him.

Finally, the subtle message this movie tries to tell is that in a war, war is the only enemy. People will be people, both good and bad on both sides. But war is and always will be the bad, no matter what side you are on.

I liked this movie so much, that I went to the theatre to see it twice! Hope it wins tons of awards. And Alia - you've raised the bar even higher. What else are you capable of? To me, you are the current actor-supreme, on par with Priyanka Chopra, who I'm dying to see on Indian screens again.

NIOS April 2018 results

Update on 1-Jun-2018

The NIOS call centre says that the April 2018 results might be released any day until the 7th of June.
Fingers crossed!

30-May-2018

According to the NIOS call centre, the April 2018 exam results for 10th and 12th will be announced on 31st May, 2018. Time is unknown, but date is confirmed, i.e. Thursday, 31-May-2018.

To check results, keep the enrollment number handy and visit www.nios.ac.in. Click on results, and enter the enrollment number.

All the best!

Padmaavat review

Such were the quality of movies in 2017, that Pink was the only one I saw in a theatre.

#Padmaavat was the first 2018 Hindi movie that I went with family to watch. My observation in bullets:

• Too lengthy at 2 hrs 45 minutes. As a result, parts of the movie dragged. Could have easily crunched it to 2 hours. 
• Sanjay Leela Bhansali needs to move away from the period drama genre. I think he himself is bored with this kind of cinema
• What was the purpose of making it 3D? Unless the content is gripping, 3D for such stories are a painful way to watch the movie
• My take on the 3 main actors:
• Deepika - main idea was to look good, and she did a fine job of it. Nothing else
• Shahid - His role could have been given more focus - but he was royalty personified
• Ranveer - A lot of people are raving about his acting. But for me, this was an extension or variation of Bajirao. Good, not brilliant
• Overall, a watchable film
• Finally a question to SLB - if Gaffoor could shoot arrows at Shahid, why didn't the Rajputs do the same and shoot Ranvir?

Dubai airport is expensive

After a long time, I got the opportunity of transiting through the famous DXB airport. The last few years, I've been using Europe to transit to the US, but my crazy travel itinerary forced me to route via Dubai.

It's an incredibly busy airport and probably has the most global connections compared to any other airport. But sweet heavens, it is quite expensive. Sample this, a cup of ordinary coffee is $5.50 and everyone carries only Evian water, which sets you back by another $7. That's quite something to pay for coffee and water.

I wonder why it's so expensive. Perhaps the rental is high at the airport? Or the restaurants pay a hefty transaction fee to the airport? Who knows, but the airport feels like a pocket pincher.

Wonder if other transiters feel the same?