Torrent ... downpour ... Monaya everywhere!!!

Thursdays seem to be good days on the Monaya/Sanaya front! I think I need three posts for today ... or maybe a three-in-one, or rather four-in-one - because am not in much of a state to write anything much.

So first of all

The Monaya BLOG
Mohit-Sanaya blog
Cool, clean lines, simple ... love the color scheme, the cherry blossoms and the photograph is dreamy :)))

Secondly - arguably to date the dreamiest interview of Mohit-Sanaya on their love story
Mohit-Sanaya share their love story
Line of the day - make that of the decade - Mohit: Love is - Sanaya.

Thirdly, a TB article on Vaidehi
Tuhinna Vohra and Sanjat Batra in Vaidehi
direct link Tuhinna Vohra and Sanjay Batra in Vaidehi
This show is getting more and more interesting - a very unusual storyline, not the usual saas-bahu tamasha invariably seen on SP, no mention till date of the hero's parents, although his sister is there, and now a mysterious past for the heroine's mother, and an interesting characterization.

and last but not least - news on Sanaya's shooting in Lucknow
sanaya shooting in Lucknow for Vaidehi
Doesn't sound like a Gunjan-ish character - although I hope she's not like Nupur either!

I think I need to make separate posts now for Sanaya and Vaidehi ... the rain has started :)))

Yessssss ... San is BACKKKK!!!!!!

Am feeling seriously euphoric ... among the plethora of bad news and tension currently in my life, one huge piece of good news - final confirmation that Sanaya is BACK!!!! With a new look ... seems a bit like Gunjan of old though - the shy, nervous Gunjan sans specs ... let's see how the show goes. But if I could sit through MJHT only for the Sajan story and for Gunjan, then I can definitely sit through Vaidehi where she will be the lead! And anyway, although Sanaya may say ad infinitum that she hates crying scenes, the fact remains that she is at her best in emotional scenes - just hope they don't become the Ekta boohoo crying types, that's all, and she remains the restrained, underplayed girl she excels at.

What I'm really happy about is that this show catapults her straight into the big league ... a lead heroine on Star Plus!!! Well done, Sanaya ... and all the very, very best for the future, for your show ... and many more to come!

Links -
Sanaya in SBS - first look Vaidehi
SBS - Gunjan makes a comeback - the SBS commentator sounded genuinely happy to be covering Sanaya again! Monaya were a riot, let's see how SaRun are!

Another piece of news, this time on Mohit - an SBS segment where he's going to the gym - now, this one I am also really pleased about, because like good Punjabi munda, he has a tendency to put on weight! And again, like he takes everything about his work very seriously, he seems to be very serious about his gymming and fitness spree - hope he continues it, because it's important for him as an actor. Chugalkhor aunty hints that he might be back soon on screen as well ... not surprising really, because he's a very hard-working actor and has a huge fan-following. Am happy for the guy - because he's a genuinely sweet guy and is that rarest of rare commodities - a nice person! Again, all the best to him - hope his confirmation comes soon too!

Sanaya again ... yes or no?

Sanaya in Vaidehi

Yet another article ... all I really want is to see Sanaya back on screen, with a decent co-star, in a show with a decent storyline ... is that really too much to ask?! Considering most of the crap on Indian telly these days, it just might be ... and I include most of MJHT and DMG in that category as well - there were only a few gems in both those shows which hooked me for varying lengths of time. MJHT actually hooked me for longer, and that was chiefly because of Gunjan, Sanaya, Samrat, and the Sajan story in that order.

So the plus points here - plus number one and the biggest, is of course Sanaya! If she is back on screen, I think I can sit through pretty much anything.

Secondly, the storyline - a business tycoon and his sister and how their love lives change their lives. Doesn't seem like a saas-bahu scenario, seems more like a fairly contemporary, urban storyline ... another plus.

Thirdly, and this is more like plus points for Sanaya - a lead role (probably the title role?), in a show on Star Plus, and if it replaces CCBM, this would be prime time, or nearly so. Lots of exposure for her, lots of chance for her to show her mettle and prove that the restrained, underplayed and deeply moving Gunjan was no flash in the pan. If in a role that was not author-backed, where she had the least lines, where she had to convey her emotions chiefly through her eyes, that too through glasses - if there she could make her presence felt so strongly, how much more will she be able to do here?! And she definitely made her presence felt there all right ... judging by the number of people who love her, and even more so, by the number who hate her, chiefly because she consistently upstaged their favourite!

So these are the pluses.

Minuses - the musical chairs going on with the casting, and now with the PH. Doesn't somehow seem to bode well for the show - seems to indicate some confusion and friction somewhere. Moreover, Sanaya is an Endemol favourite, so since Endemol has backed out, will Sanaya also follow suit at some point?
Secondly, the lead - don't know him at all, so will just hope for the best. Would have preferred Karan Wahi, or Kavi Shastri - now he could have carried off young business tycoon to a T!
Thirdly, Sanaya herself has not yet confirmed ... so till she does, or till we actually get news of her starting shoot, might be wiser to keep hopes low, and fingers crossed.
A fourth negative - the PH's in question are those involved in Geet and Yeh Ishq Haaye - in an attempt at being fair, I tried to sit through one episode of Geet last night, and found myself laughing through the inevitable "maahi" scene - don't know the history behind why Geet has walked out on Maan, and it doesn't help that they whisper their dialogues in what they probably fondly imagine to be intense tones, so couldn't figure out the reason either. Anyway, that couple doesn't hold any magic for me at all, although funnily, I like both Gurmeet and Dhrashti offscreen! But ... the Punjabi family scenes were better, at least watchable and I like the actors playing Teji praaji and his dimwitted wife! Better than the new Dev - at least the first Dev was decent eye-candy - who's this new fellow? I could not sit through YIH at all ... so that is a big negative!

All in all, I would be inclined to be cautiously positive ... Sanaya in lead role, on Star Plus, in an urban contemporary show - three out of four on my wish list!

*Edit* - apparently not only has Chughalkor aunty conformed the news of Sanaya's return, but also there is news that she has started shooting!
Balle balle!!!!
Hope we get a promo by month end - can't wait to see Sanaya's new look!!!

Some good, some strange

Watching SGP these days, after the frenzy of the World Cup, a few random thoughts ...

Good part about the latest track - the fact that everyone in the family knows about the illness - completely unlike most serials and movies where the truth is always hidden from someone or the other, usually by the patient, or from the patient, in the hope of "sparing" near and dear ones the pain. Which I always found inane and stupid in the extreme - if you don't share this kind of thing with your family, there's no way you can get through it. So the good part in the track is definitely how the entire family gets to know, goes through the initial shock and then slowly starts to come to terms with the news and what is to be done about it. And is trying to support each other, be brave, instead of crying buckets of tears all the time.

Another good thing - Suhana's mother makes an appearance - albeit in flashbacks, and Vaishnavi M is a lovely actress - she brings a warmth and life to her role, the scenes between her and Suhana's father are really good. Both are good actors and make you feel their emotions.

Which brings me to the strange - although Ragini is a decent actress, in this track, I give her a 'thumbs down'. So far, she hasn't really made me feel anything. Again the supporting characters make me feel more emotions than Suhana does, although in her scenes with her sister and then with the two bhabhis, she was not bad at all. Not bad - but I can't feel her. And for a track like this one, if i can't connect to her as a viewer, the track loses its intensity right away.

Ditto Ishaan - Jay Soni seems to be the weakest link. He's looked like a loveable simpleton all through, he continues to look like that. He doesn't look as though he's going through the most earth-shattering events of his life at all - the intensity, the depth of emotion is just not there in his eyes. No anguish - that's the word I want. I remember seeing Samrat anguished because he couldn't find Gunjan after the bet - the very first time I ever thought Mohit could act - he had that anguish in his eyes, just because he felt Gunjan was upset about something and wasn't telling him. Here Ishaan is supposed to be losing the love of his life - or at least is scared he's going to - and I can't feel it at all.
And I'm not even going to compare the hospital scenes here - there Mohit was a class apart, Ishaan is nowhere near.

Another good - the tiny Panna and her mil scene. And that's what I meant about feeling emotions - the beginning of the change in attitude of her mil, the slightest smile on Panna's face, slightly disbelieving, yet happy - as though to say, did that just really happen? And they have me waiting for the next part of that track - because I could feel what was happening, not just watch it.

BLEED BLUE!!!!!!!!!!

I don't think anyone except the most die-hard cricket haters would have been watching anything on TV apart from the match last night! And what a match it was!

Virat Kohli said it best - "He (Sachin) has carried the Indian team on his shoulders for the last 21 years. It was time we carried him."

They did ... and how!!! When Sehwag got out on the second ball of the innings, there was shock, disappointment, but no despair. After all, Sachin, the God of cricket, and definitely the God of Indian cricket was still there, and he seemed in fine form. But when Sachin's wicket fell, and he walked slowly back, all I could do was fervently wish and pray for a real-live replay ... another chance for him, because I thought that with Sachin gone, and 31 for 2, India didn't have a chance. Not with that mammoth total of 275.

But the Men in Blue proved me wrong ... and how! Starting with Gautam Gambhir, playing slowly, patiently ... Virat Kohli supporting him, then of course, Dhoni playing that captain's knock with Yuvraj's support ... the stuff dreams are made of, and unlike many which have earlier turned into nightmares, this one didn't - it turned into reality! And the best part was that Sachin and Sehwag didn't have much to do, it was the younger players who stepped up - as though to tell Sachin, you've done it for a long time, mate, we'll share your burden now, we'll carry on the legacy you've given us. And we'll do you proud.

I didn't watch most of the Indian innings - every time I went into the TV room, a wicket seemed to fall, so superstitiously I stayed out. I wonder how many people in India followed some silly supersition like me last night - sitting in a favourite chair, not going to the loo, wearing a lucky Tshirt ... but finally, when I went in and Dhoni was almost run out, I told my husband I'll watch if he isn't run out. If he is, that means my jinx is working. But Dhoni survived ... and I could watch the rest of the match, first in tension, and then as the run rate slowly eased, gradually with more and more excitement. And what fun it was ... a pure adrenaline rush. When Malinga came on to bowl the first of his last three overs, and the first four balls were dot balls, I nearly fled again! Then 3 runs came off 2 balls, the run rate's climb was arrested, and I sat down again. Next over was good for India, boundaries came and the RRR fell even more. Then Malinga came on again, and Dhoni clouted him for two consecutive fours. Of course, with that, India were well and truly home, bar the shouting, and even a pessimist like me could watch the last two balls completely free of tension ... and enjoy that last SIX!!!!

Victory is indeed sweet ... WELL DONE, MEN IN BLUE!!!! The dream of over a billion Indians, the prayers of over a billions Indians ... all for this moment! And truly, nothing unites India and inspires patriotism as much as this game of cricket ... when Vande Mataram, Jao Ho and other songs were playing during the breaks, it wasn't funny, it was inspiring!

Most touching moments - seeing the players in tears after the victory. Showed how much it meant to them, how hard they had worked for it. The group hugs, the hoisting on shoulders, the ecstacy on their faces ... it was really a wonderful team effort, and those moments showed how close-knit the team had become.

BLEED BLUE!!! VANDE MATARAM!!! JAI HO!!!

More on Sanaya!

Sanaya is definitely in the news all right! Two more articles ... hope they herald her comeback - and soon! From the spate of articles on her, is cautious optimism justified?

CCBM ending, Vaidehi replacing it
So the news about CCBM seems to be right, and the new Endemol/4Lions show is replacing it. Now it only remains to be confirmed if Sanaya will do this, or come in MJHT3, IF that's happening ... or another show.

April Fools Day
Aww, don't even think about that, Sanaya ... we already saw that Mohit goes berserk at the thought of anything happening to you - he broke a door down for a teeny-weeny mouse, for heaven's sake!