I suddenly realized there’s more dust on my keyboard then I had imagined. Anyway, the long leave from blogging was not without a reason. Off late I had been focusing hard to get my CUA certification which I finally did today. I have now become a Certified Usability Analyst. Just for information, CUA is a test for usability professionals which is preceded by a 4 part training course in various faculties, conducted by Human Factors International (HFI). They have been renowned for their work in the field of usability engineering for the past 25 years. Personally speaking, this certification has given a much needed impetus for my continuing research and interest in the field of human factors and interaction design. Thanks to all my lovely friends who had hoped for the best and prayed for me for this day :-)
December 2006
Dhoom 2 (2006)
Bikes, babes and battering blows, machoism and hip music; that’s Dhoom (excitement) for you. But unlike Dhoom, the prelude, which had John and his team modifying their mobikes and going for the loot, the sequel lacks substantially in a convincing plot (the script had inspired a gang of real thieves in Mumbai which were apprehended by the police some time ago). The mantra of the sequel seems to be gadgets and disguise and the story banks on both to move forward (ala The Saint). Therefore we have a hunk called Aryan (Hrithik Roshan), an elusive high profile con man, skydiving on a speeding train in the middle of the Namib Desert which is carrying the Queen’s crown. A few implausible acrobats later, the mission is accomplished successfully. Incomparable with the train dacoity sequence from the movie Sholay, the best in the history of Hindi cinema. But that’s for later.
Ustad & the Divas
Finally bought the audio CD of this album released by YBR Records. The video for the song ‘Leja Leja’ with model Nina Sarkar and Varun Toorkey (read here) has been airing on the music channels for quite some time now. It’s a story of a bar dancer whose seemingly frustrated with her life until she meets her prince charming at the bus stand. I reckon it’s going to be a video series; the story being continued through the songs in the album. The video has been choreographed quite nicely.
The album consists of 10 mellifluous songs sung by Ustad Sultan Khan & accompanied by 3 of the most talented female singers of our times – Shreya Ghoshal, Sunidhi Chauhan and Chitra (back after the success of ‘Piya Basanti’). D J Mit chips in by remixing 2 of the songs in the album. A genuine mix of folk and classical music sprinkled with some western beats, the wonderful songs have been composed by Sandesh Shandilya and arranged by Salim-Sulaiman. A must buy for all music lovers.