Few memorable hindi movies

1. Sholay

An obvious choice for any hindi movie buff. A path breaking movie, much ahead of its time.

2. Deewar

Amitabh Bachchan again. An inspiration for most of the action, family dramas, lost and found movies released in late 70s and early 80s.

3. Mere Apne

Might not have heard of this movie. One of the pioneers of its genre. College politics started from here. Shiva, Arjun, Haasil etc just followed the trend.

4. Parichay

Jeetendra's only movie which made any sense :). An incredibly simple story. An inspiration for "Hum hain raahi pyaar ke"!!!

5. Maachis

Gulzar. What a way to highlight the atrocities caused by government during Punjab crisis!! Why isn't he directing any movies now a days? After Hu-tu-tu, it seems he got busy with his lyricist job. We want more from the person who gave us gems like Mere Apne, Koshish, Angoor, Parichay, Aandhi....and a few others.

6. Rang De Basanti

Can you name a single movie released in last 5-10 years which created such a huge impact on people's conscience as it did?

7. Lagaan

Aamir Khan again.

8. Masoom

9. Satya

Re-defined the hard hitting crime genre movie. Mumbai ka KING kaun -- "Bhikhu". RGV's most complete work till date. Company, Sarkar seems pale in comparison, even though they were good, but Satya was just a MASTERPIECE.

10. Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge

This is madness, but the movie is still running in Maratha Mandir, Mumbai.

11. Maine Pyaar Kiya

Every time I begin watching this movie, I leave only when the end credits roll.

12. Khamoshi

Sanja Leela Bhansali's best work till date. Was a commercial failure, though.

13. Main Azaad Hoon

A movie conveying a strong message. Amitabh was not known for doing this kind of movies in his prime.

14. Roja

Madhu, Arvind, Pankaj Kapoor, Mani Ratnam, AR Rehmaan. What a powerful creation!!!

Its music still haunts us. Its message is still relevant to our times.

15. Black Friday

One of the most important movies to come out in recent times. Movies like this are not made every day. Anurag Kashyap will always be remembered for this one movie all his life even though his repertoire includes movies like Satya, Yuva, Shool, Water, Gulaal, Dev D and several others.

Honourable mentions:

Mumbai Meri Jaan, Lagey Raho Munnabhai, Dil Chahta Hai, Jab We Met, Dor, Golmaal, Chhoti Si Baat, Taare Zameen Par.

Memorable Foreign Movies

My compilation of the memorable movies, out of the thousands I watched till date.

1. The Shawshank Redemption

One of the best movies ever made. Ratings at IMDB is a glaring tribute for this wonderfully made movie.

2. 12 Angry Men

Tense court-room drama about 12 juries deciding the fate of a child convicted for murdering his father.

3. City Of God

Could be said to be the best ever foreign (non-english) movies made and in crime genre the best ever including all of those produced from hollywood.

4. The Godfather

Neck to neck fight with Shawshank for getting the top honours on imdb.com. An inspiration for Sarkar, Dayawan, Nayakan and several other known or unknown gangster movies.

5. The Dark Knight

Outsmarts all of the super-heroes movies ever made. JOKER, a character from movie was recently voted 3rd best of all the characters portrayed ever in a hollywood movie.

6. Life is Beautiful

Sweet romantic movie about a jewish family in a German concentration camp during second world war.

7. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

Jack Nicholsan at his best.

8. Schindler's List

An inspiring/brave tale of a person (a German businessman) who saves lives of thousands of jews at the hands of his fellow Germans during second world war.

9. The Matrix

C'mon, don't tell me you haven't watched this movie!!

10. Fargo

Coen brothers at their best. A simple, serene crime investigation.

11. The Departed

Fight between Boston mafia and MA police department. How will you find the rat?

12. The Pianist

An encouraging tale of a musician during second world war.

13. Requiem for a dream

If you are a drug addict, watch this movie. Will definitely force you, stir you out to think "is it really worth"?

14. The Prestige

Two magicians outsmarting each other. Christopher Nolan's ascendency to the greatness began with this movie.

15. Braveheart

William Wallace. The greatest warrior Scotland has ever produced. Watch this movie for the mesmerizing sound score during one of the initial scenes where a cute little girl gifts a flower to his friend mourning at his father's grave.

16. Avatar

Technical wizardry at its best. Movie watching was an event for the first time for me.

17. Gladiator

A gladiator's tale of his rise and fall and then rising again from the oblivion.

18. Gandhi

Best ever movie made on Bapu. And mind you this wasn't made by an Indian. Another surprise was the actor portraying Gandhi was not an Indian.

19. Raging Bull

A boxer's biography.

20. Lord of the Rings - Return of the King

Don't watch it on small screen. You won't admire it as much as others do.

What is in the grammar? Part - 1

Why one should know about grammar?

Grammar can be defined as the structure in which one can put his words to express his thoughts.

From our childhood days we are using english language in different forms.

So, it makes much sense to discuss some of the common mistakes we usually commit while communicating with others.

1. Difference between effect and affect?

Effect is a noun.

Affect is a verb.

2. When to use continual and when continuous?

Continual refers to successive actions with occasional cessations.

While continuous is unbroken, uninterrupted movements or series of actions.

Continual rain can have short spells of fair weather intervening between the frequent storms.

But, continuous rain means that it never stops.

3. Sense should be followed by 'in' when it implies logic or sensibleness. However, if sense signifies meaning, it should be followed by 'of'.

What is the sense in arguing?

Can you get the sense of that poem?

4. Which one you prefer to use?

What kind of a day is it?

or

What kind of day is it?

The word 'a' is considered unnecessary following 'what kind', 'what sort' or 'what type'. It is rarely used in educated speech.

So, always ask:

What kind of job are you looking for?

What type of dress I should wear?

5. Difference between 'principle' and 'principal'.

Principle - Rule, truth, law of conduct or action (is a noun)

Principal - Main (is an adjective)

Principal may be used as a noun when referring:

- to a sum of money

- to a person who is chief of any organization

6. Difference between 'hung' and 'hanged'.

Anything which is suspended is hung.

- Pictures are hung on the wall.

- Clothes were hung out in the sunlight.

Hanged is used to describe execution by hanging.

- You will be hanged if caught cheating. :)

- He hanged himself.

The murderer was hanged and his corpse was hung until it was cut down.

7. Correct (plural) forms:

Mothers-in-law

editors-in-chief

attorneys general

men of war

notaries public

passers by

8. "Do it good" or "Do it well".

'Good' or 'Well' is modifying a verb 'do'. So, it should be an adverb as adverb is one which modifies verbs, adjectives or another adverbs. Good is an adjective, so it must be modifying nouns not verbs.
So, well is the correct form.

So, always use:

Do it well.

"Go slow" or "Go slowly".

Slowly is an adverb. However, slow is acting as an adverb here.

So, either of the forms can be used.

9. Difference between 'incredible' and 'incredulous'.

You sound 'incredulous' when you show skepticism.

Something is 'incredible' if it is difficult to believe.

Credulous person believes what he hears.

Something is credible if it warrants belief.

Don't look so incredulous when I tell you what happened to me.

You are too credulous. You should distinguish facts from fancy.

The climate at equator is incredibly hot.

It is a perfectly credible story.

10. Some other correct (plural) forms:

spoonfuls of sugar

cupfuls of rice

handfuls of pulse

glassfuls of tea