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Showing posts from February, 2013

Movie review: Dhoom 3

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With a budget 16 times that of the first film but a full seven years after the previous one, Dhoom 3 released in 2013. Even bigger, even richer, almost entirely shot in Chicago, it is at the time of release the Indian film with the highest budget in history, later joined in 2015 by the blockbuster Baahubali, the first to be released on IMAX and with Dolby Atmos audio. Dhoom, after the partial parenthesis of Dhoom 2, returns to use motorcycle stunts, reconfirming itself as THE motorcycle racing film. But there's more. Motorcycles are no longer content to whizz along the streets but transform into jet skis, slide on cables stretched between buildings, brushing subway cars, and merge together to become a single, powerful vehicle. Dhoom 3 has Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra trying to pull off Rajni-style stunts. This time the two inevitable policemen, always played by Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra, try to capture a brilliant thief-illusionist, Sahir magnificently played by Aa...

Book Review: RIP by Mukul Deva

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RIP by Mukul Deva explores the challenges faced by India, presenting a bold and somewhat idealistic approach to address these issues. The narrative highlights the frustration of self-proclaimed guardians of the state, who are enraged by the persistent corruption and disgrace undermining its foundation. They vow to eliminate corrupt lawmakers, even if it means resorting to extreme measures, in order to establish an effective and transparent governance in India. The story begins with an intriguing premise, featuring the assassination of four prominent figures within the establishment, executed with remarkable precision. The group responsible for these actions identifies themselves as RIP, which stands for Resurgent Indian Patriots. This team comprises retired military personnel with distinguished service records, led by former para-commando Colonel Krishna Athawle, along with Majors Karan Singh, Kevin David, Kashif Nadeem, Kamlesh Saikia, and Kulwant Singh. Their strategy involves inst...

Easy and Delicious Malai Kofta Recipe

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Malai kofta is a savory, creamy dish from northern India. It is a vegetarian version of the standard meatballs and koftas found around the world. Instead of meatballs, however, paneer and selected vegetables are used. Malai kofta is usually served with plain rice or Indian flatbreads, such as naan, chapati (also known as roti), or paratha. Malai kofta is one of the most popular curry dishes throughout India and is found on the menu of many Indian restaurants around the world. The malai part of the name refers to the rich creamy sauce, while kofta refers to the dish's main ingredient: vegetable balls and paneer. What is the origin of malai kofta? The origins of this vegetarian dish are unclear, however, it is known to have originated in the Indian subcontinent and played a vital role in shaping the cuisine of the Middle East, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia. What are the Malai Kofta variants? In countries like Cyprus and Greece, the vegetarian alternative known as hortokef...

How to make Khaman Dhokla Recipe

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We continue the journey through all those culinary delights and its various incarnations around the world. Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra boasts a surprising variety of food. If you plan to visit Mumbai at any time in the future, then you should definitely try Dhokla. Whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian, there are a variety of different cuisines. On its way to becoming the commercial capital of India in a village known mainly for fishing, Mumbai has come a long way in terms of gastronomy. Moreover, people who migrated to Mumbai from different parts of India in the hope of realizing their dreams, have brought with them gastronomically delicious gems that have contributed to diversity. You can find a sizeable population of Gujaratis residing in Mumbai and that is why their favorite snack Dhokla has gained popularity like no other. This vegetarian dish is very simple to do as it is made from fermented chickpeas, hot spices, and ginger in a closed container. In order to enhance it...

Quick & Easy Pav Bhaji Recipe

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I love street food and believe that it's the direct expression of most real emotions and culinary traditions of a country. India too is part of this great food culture, with stalls everywhere, so attractive and persistently fragrant. If anyone asks an Indian what street food is his favorite, his most frequent response will be Bhelpuri, Panipuri and Pav Bhaji. Let us introduce you to Pav Bhaji, the king of Mumbai street food. Pav means bread and Bhaji means vegetable. It seems that this specialty was born as lunch for the workers of a textile mill in Mumbai, convenient and easy to eat during their short break. Today it has overcome its humble beginnings and can be found on the menus in most restaurants across the country, because it is a very easy dish to cook and serve. The bhaji is a preparation of mixed greens with onions, tomatoes, potatoes and basic spices, very hot and red/orange coloured. The vegetables are cooked and then mashed to give the consistency of a thick gravy, m...

Most Beautiful Love Quotes and Messages for Him and Her

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Love quotes are eternal and immortal. They have the power to enchant, to make you smile, remember, excite, reflect and never go out of style. They do not age with the years, just like true feelings. Everyone likes them, because everyone finds a bit of their own thoughts and feelings in them, of what they would like to say, and perhaps do not know how to say, to express what they feel for the person they love. Poets and novelists from all over the world have written about love, analyzing and depicting in every way this feeling, this supporting structure of human existence, without which nothing would have any meaning or flavor. There are many moments when you feel the need to send a message of love to your loved one, to see strong emotions transformed into words, which arise from the heart and finally find, like autumn leaves sheltered from the wind, the peace on the white sheet of paper that awaits them. Have you ever thought about why love messages have such a great appeal? Often, ...

The Story Of The Teddy Bear

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Stuffed animals have been children's best friends for thousands of years. Whether you call them stuffed animals, stuffed animals, comforters, teddy bears, stuffed animals, or whatever name you give them, chances are you've had one or more throughout your life. Stuffed toys are the holy grail of toys given to young children, used as safety and comfort devices and far more popular than almost any other type of toy. In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who didn't have a favorite stuffed animal when they were little. Nowadays, we find stuffed animals of all shapes, stuffed animals, monsters, aliens and we even managed to get the moon to make a stuffed moon ! If you're curious like us, you've probably wondered who invented stuffed animals or why teddy bears are called "teddy bears"? Who has the largest collection of teddy bears in the world? How much do vintage teddy bears sell for? for auction? In fact, the history of stuffed animals is inter...

Homemade Apple Clafoutis Recipe

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Are you fascinated by French cuisine? Then you can't miss the tasty recipe for apple clafoutis. Apple clafoutis or Clafoutis Aux Pommes is a variation of the typical apple pie we are used to, made with a process typical of French pastry making. It is a very delicious dessert, perfect to be served on many occasions, from afternoon snacks to desserts at the end of sumptuous menus. Clafoutis originated in the Limoges region. Clafoutis is a dessert of French origin made of a batter enriched with fresh fruit, such as cherries or peaches, or dried fruit, such as almonds and walnuts. Its name comes from the term clafir which means to garnish or stuff. It is a recycled dessert of which there are many sweet and savory variations and, in ancient times, it was traditionally prepared to be taken to the countryside by farmers as a working meal during the hay harvest. You know when you want something sweet but you don't know if you want a cake, a pancake or a dessert? Well, apple clafoutis...