Fitness

It’s the time of the year where pie becomes the official dessert of just about every occasion. Not only do these delicious treats make their way onto our plates, but they will also find a way to end up on our hips, belly and booty as unwanted fat. As ladies, we have worked far too hard this year to let a slice a pie be our undoing.

Whether you are mingling with the masses on Black Friday, rushing to the supermarket for some much-needed groceries, or are simply spending more time shopping than at the gym, you don’t have to neglect working out altogether. We’ve complied this handy list of alternative exercises that can be done while you are out shopping.

Running is one of the simplest and most effective workouts you can do, and you can do it just about anywhere. It’s great for weight loss, strengthening your joints, and improving your cardiovascular health. Whether you’re just embarking on a new running routine or are an experienced runner, here are some tips to help you make the most out of your running session.

There’s no doubt that exercise has benefits. Not only can it improve your health and appearance, but it can also enhance your mood and even make you a happier person. Just how exactly does this happen? Here are a number of proven ways exercise can boost your spirits and help you find your smile.

Exercise is an essential part of any healthy lifestyle. If you work out on a regular basis, you’ll benefit from increased strength, improved cardiovascular endurance, fat reduction, as well as an overall decrease in health risks. Yes, we all know that there are countless health benefits of exercise, but just how much exercise do we really need? It all comes down to your fitness goals.

If you’re an exercise enthusiast, you know that there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all exercise plan. All our bodies are built differently, meaning that you need to customize your workout plans to best suit your body shape and yield optimum results.

Since the dawn of mankind, people have walked. It is one of the easiest, most natural things you can do - yet with cars, buses, trains and escalators easily available, modern technology has made it a less favorable option for getting around. And because of this, people walk much less often today, perhaps less than at any other time in the history of humanity.

It’s raining remakes! RANGREZZ. HIMMATWALA. Now CHASHME BADDOOR. I’ve often been asked, is there a paucity of ideas in Bollywood? Why do dream merchants opt for remakes? Why not inventive concepts? Additionally, a lot of cineastes strongly feel classics should not be tampered with. For, rarely has a remake surpassed the original, in terms of content. In the process, those opting for remakes have lost credibility when comparisons are made… Now David Dhawan steps into the revered territory with CHASHME BADDOOR, a film attempted by Sai Paranjpye more than three decades ago. CHASHME BADDOOR is loved for its simplistic plot, wittiness and slice of life realism. A story of three friends who fall in love with the same girl and the confusion that ensues… Sure, David borrows from the original, but the humor in his version is in your face, over the top, flamboyant… it’s simply wild, when you compare it with Sai’s version. Does it mean it’s more entertaining or a hodgepodge of the cult classic? Let’s analyse… CHASHME BADDOOR narrates the story of three friends [Ali Zafar, Siddharth, Divyendu Sharma], who attempt to woo the same girl [Taapsee Pannu]. While the girl sets her sights on one of the guys, the remaining two go on an overdrive to tear the love birds apart. At the very outset, let me make it clear that David’s adaptation is shades different from Sai’s version. As different as chalk and cheese. As different as Rohit Shetty’s BOL BACHCHAN was from its original source, Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s GOL MAAL. Like I stated at the outset, this one’s over the top, loud and very ‘David Dhawanish’, if one can use this terminology. But to give the credit where it’s due, it’s thoroughly engaging and entertaining. David has made a career out of comedies and at a point of time, was referred to as the successor to Manmohan Desai thanks to the dollops of entertainment he offered in his movies. With CHASHME BADDOOR, David steps into the comfort zone yet again. There’s no denying that the humour he injects in this one is not aimed at the purists, but the spectator of today, who may not be as complaining purely because of the laughs and entertainment it has to offer. Besides, David ensures that there’s hardly any dull moment in the present-day adaptation. He executes the film with a certain ease, opting for amusing punch lines, wild situations and mad and crazy episodes. The game of one-upmanship that was evident in his earlier works, namely DEEWANA MASTANA [Anil Kapoor, Govinda fighting for Juhi Chawla’s attention] and MUJHSE SHAADI KAROGE [Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar’s attempts to impress Priyanka Chopra] is very evident in CHASHME BADDOOR as well. The battle of wits is enjoyable for sure. But there are times when certain episodes appear prolonged and the jokes fall flat. The intent of making you laugh does not come across as strongly in few portions. Besides, the soundtrack is absolutely in sync with the content, but the placement of songs could be more appropriate. However, the usage of popular songs in the flashback portions is refreshingly different. Sajid-Farhad’s dialogue are aimed at evoking laughs and they serve the purpose. The one-liners, especially those delivered by Siddharth and Divyendu, are hilarious. Cinematography [Sanjay F. Gupta] captures the colourful setting well. Now to the performances! Ali Zafar gives a wonderful account of himself as he lights up every sequence he features in. Siddharth does a complete turnaround from the roles he has portrayed in Hindi films [RANG DE BASANTI, STRIKER], handling his part with gusto. Divyendu Sharma, who debuted in PYAAR KA PUNCHNAMA, too does an about-turn this time. He slips into his part most effortlessly. Taapsee Pannu, who makes her debut in Hindi movies after acting in South Indian language movies, is vivacious and confident. Rishi Kapoor gets a complete makeover in CHASHME BADDOOR and he’s damn adorable in sequences with Lillete. Anupam Kher lets himself go completely and is absolutely wild in dual roles. Lillete Dubey is super, while Bharti Achrekar [as Taapsee’s grand-mom] is loveable. Ayaz Khan has nothing much to do. On the whole, CHASHME BADDOOR encompasses the spirit of the original, but has been customised to entice the present-day spectators. An entertainer with dollops of humour and wild situations thrown in, this one’s a laugh-riot that should not be missed!

HIMMATWALA was THE film that gave an impetus to the trend of remaking South Indian films in the 1980s. Post this film, there was a sea of remakes, with Jeetendra, Sridevi, Kader Khan, Shakti Kapoor and Asrani featuring in almost every remake… It’s easy to remake a successful film, but the responsibility that Sajid Khan carries on his shoulders cannot be assessed in mere words. Right from the masala quotient to Ajay and Tamannah matching steps with Jeetendra and Sridevi, respectively, each and every aspect of the new version will be examined with a magnifying glass. While a section of the industry [as well as moviegoers] opine that trendsetting movies should not be touched [read remade], there also exists a section that feels that the present-day generation would love to watch those films in new avtaars. The debate continues… The pertinent query is, does Sajid Khan’s HIMMATWALA recreate the magic of K. Raghavendra Rao’s HIMMATWALA [1983], which itself was a remake of a Telugu film? At the very outset, let me inform you that the two HIMMATWALAs are almost similar, yet dissimilar. While the basic premise remains identical, besides retaining two hugely popular tracks, Sajid has modified certain portions of the film, besides adding a few episodes. What’s common between the two versions is the intent to provide entertainment to its target audience — those who relish masala fares. Now let’s talk of the new HIMMATWALA. It’s all about entertainment, entertainment and entertainment. Right from the styling to death-defying action to fiery dialogue delivered in high decibels, everything that you get to see in HIMMATWALA is reminiscent of the Bollywood of the 1980s. The mother-son drama, the hero-villain conflict, the heroism… even Ajay’s introductory sequence is straight out of 1980s. Be forewarned, HIMMATWALA is 1980s cinema packaged in a new wrapping, but even if you have an appetite for the masala movies of yore or are ready to do a time travel to the angry young man of 1980s, chances are you will feel suffocated by the on-screen goings-on that Sajid Khan dishes out in the name of entertainment. HIMMATWALA narrates the story of a son [Ajay Devgn], who comes to the village to avenge the injustice meted out to his father [Anil Dhawan], who had been wrongly accused by the Sarpanch [Mahesh Manjrekar] of robbery. HIMMATWALA takes you back to the familiar terrain. It’s the typical good versus bad saga loaded with every possible ingredient that makes masala films tick. Sajid ensures that those who have watched the earlier HIMMATWALA — or those who haven’t watched it — get paisa vasool entertainment in those 2.30 hours, but, unfortunately, what unfolds on screen is so routine and monotonous that you fervently hope for some novelty in this adaptation. One doesn’t mind massy entertainers, but there has to be a hook to keep the viewer’s attention arrested. HIMMATWALA provides that only towards the closing stages of the film, when the mother [Zarina Wahab] gets to know of Ajay’s true identity. Sajid makes an attempt to pay homage to the cinema of yore, but what he delivers makes you sit motionless for most parts. If a movie fails to invoke wolf whistles or ovation at the right places, you realize something is seriously wrong. The biggest problem is Sajid does nothing, absolutely nothing out of the box or path-breaking in the current scenario to grab your attention, which is why HIMMATWALA fails as a film. The romance lacks fire, the drama is devoid of intensity, even the action is plain ordinary… Frankly, HIMMATWALA has nothing that warrants a repeat viewing. While Sajid retains two hugely popular tracks from the original [‘Naino Mein Sapna’ and ‘Taki Taki’], HIMMATWALA has yet another track that’s lilting — ‘Bum Pe Laat’. However, ‘Thank God It’s Friday’, at the very start of the film, is plain ordinary, despite the star presence of Sonakshi Sinha. Sajid-Farhad’s dialogue have always been mass-friendly and the lines in HIMMATWALA are a riot at times. The masses will love the dialogue delivered by Paresh Rawal specifically. The action sequences are just about okay. We have seen better stuff in several escapist fares recently. Ajay slips into the retro avatar effortlessly. Generally known for his intense performances, he plays to the gallery well. He may be awkward in dances, but he makes sure he roars like a lion when he confronts the antagonist. Tamannah faces an uphill task of stepping into Sridevi’s shoes and though she looks photogenic, there’s no acting talent on display here. Mahesh Manjrekar doesn’t evoke terror that one would associate with his character. Paresh Rawal is the real scene stealer, who gets to deliver the best lines. Zarina Wahab shines in the penultimate sequence mainly. Adhyayan Suman is wooden. Rajendra Gupta and Vindu Dara Singh have bit roles. Asrani is wasted. The actress enacting the role of Ajay’s sister does well. Riteish Deshmukh appears in a cameo. Oh, before I forget, there’s a tiger too, who comes across as the real himmatwala in the climax of the film! On the whole, HIMMATWALA fails as a film. The only silver lining is the presence of A-list stars and of course, the hype surrounding the film, which might attract footfalls in mass-friendly circuits initially. But as a film that promises big entertainment, HIMMATWALA is hugely disappointing!