Archive for October, 2009

Kingfisher Calendar Contest

Friday, October 30th, 2009

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Kingfisher and NDTV Good Times launches a Brand New Reality show which gives one girl a chance to be on the Kingfisher Calendar 2010.

But how did it all begin?

1000’s of aspiring models from all over the world applied to NDTV Good Times 2 months ago to be a part of the Kingfisher Calendar 2010. After a detail scrutiny 12 finalists were chosen among the auditions conducted in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. With dreams in their eyes and hopes in the hearts the finalists were taken to Goa at the ZURI Varca hotel where the Battle of the Bikinis begun. With unusual tasks, splendid photo shoots and fierce competition the girls fought to strike their best. Atul Kasbekar, Milind Soman and Shobhaa De along with DINO MOREA and MADHAVAN in the first episode judged the contestants depending on their performance.

2003- Ujjwalla, Katrina…… 2004-Yana, Vidhisha ……… 2005-obviously another head turner……..2006-7-8 and 2009 many more places and gorgeous faces……. 2010- who’s it going to be this year? Over the last seven years the Kingfisher Calendar has become synonymous with the hottest models, exotic locations, stunning photographs and has been the most sought out swimsuit calendar in the country. This year one page of the calendar has been thrown open to a fresh face. Join Atul Kasbekar, Milind Soman and Shobhaa De as they are on the hunt for the hottest girl in the country on the most exciting reality show. Join the NDTV Good Times “The Hunt for The Kingfisher Calendar Girl 2010” starting 30th October 2009 , Fridays @10pm.
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Batman: Arkham Asylum Joker Trailer

Thursday, October 29th, 2009
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Batman: Arkham Asylum gets our vote as the most exciting game for 2009. The game opens with Batman rushing to Arkham Asylum, Gotham’s home for the criminally insane. The mastermind Joker is eerily omnipresent from the game’s very first scene, where even when strapped to a stretcher and wheeled through the halls of Arkham like a death row inmate, he playfully pesters everyone within shouting distance.

Within seconds the trap unravels and Batman realizes that the Joker has no intention of escaping. Joker’s ploy all along was to ensure Batman stays on Arkham forever. The Joker’s role shifts from captive to captor, along with all the other inmates that want revenge on Batman for incarcerating them. A slew of techniques will be required to defeat this game like moving in shadows, using gadgets, fighting, solving puzzles and more. With engrossing graphics and a dark, moody setting this is one action, adventure game that you don’t want to miss. The game can be played on Playstation 3, XBOX 360 and Microsoft Windows.

Price – $59.99

Brothers

Thursday, October 29th, 2009
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Title: Brothers
Director: Jim Sheridan
Writer: David Benioff
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire

Brothers, the latest to emerge from the oeuvre of director Jim Sheridan, is packed with the kind of intense performances that will leave you feeling stunned. A highly decorated marine goes missing during the course of an overseas war, and his younger brother, who is a black sheep of sorts, cares for his wife and children at home. As the narrative progresses it leads to consequences that will shake the foundations of an entire family and leave the audience mesmerized. As far as their characters go, the thirty-year-old Captain Sam Cahill (Tobey Maguire) and his younger brother Tommy Cahill (Jake Gyllenhaal) are totally different from each other. Sam is a devoted family man and an upright officer, and he is married to his childhood sweetheart, Natalie Portman, called Grace in the film.

Tommy is extremely charismatic, but he is also a decadent drifter, and has been in and out of jail. The film’s narrative progresses in two kinds of landscapes, war torn Afghanistan on one side and the halcyon ambiance of the home where Grace lives with her children. In Afghanistan, initially Sam is presumed to be dead, but he is still alive, while being subjected to the most intense physical trauma. However, he has no idea that back at his home his brother and his wife are being drawn together by a force that they are not strong enough to resist. When Sam finally makes it back home, the undercurrent of tension in the family becomes even more unbearable. Is there a way by which brothers can come to terms with issues of love, loyalty, and manhood, when both of them are caught in the welter of love for the same woman?

2010 Cadillac CTS-V

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

2010 Cadillac CTS-V
When you first glance at the Cadillac CTS-V, you don’t realize how powerful the engine is or how plush the interiors are. But once you step behind the wheel of this sexy cat and grab it by its tail, you will find it purring with excitement. This high performance sedan is practical, it looks good, and it is a thrill to ride. Powered by a 6.2-liter supercharged version of the Chevrolet Corvette’s V8 engine, this car has the potential to produce 556 hp of raw power. Embellished with GM’s Magnetic Ride Control suspension, the car uses sensors to monitor road conditions and adjust suspension tuning accordingly.

No matter what kind of terrain you are driving on, you can rest assured that your ride is going to be as smooth and comfortable as possible. A performance level of 14-mpg in the city and 19-mpg on the highway is quite impressive for a sedan of this size. The interior turns out to be lavish enough to inspire awe. The Recaro-brand seats come with 14-way adjustment. Even the shift lever and the steering wheel come embellished in fancy material that feels soothing to touch. The interior is so spacious that if the recession hit you badly just buy one of these and move into it. Just make sure your girlfriend doesn’t move in and start decorating.

Price – $60,720
2010 Cadillac CTS-V

SAW VI

Thursday, October 29th, 2009
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Title: Saw VI
Director: Kevin Greutert

Very few movies have the capability of spawning six installments, but Saw manages to achieve that incredible feat. The sixth installment of the bloodcurdling thriller is now running in a theater near you and it turns out to be as compelling and intensely suspenseful as the earlier Saw films were. The narrative of Saw VI takes off where Saw V left. An unchallenged successor to Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) has emerged, and that is Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor). But before Hoffman can really carve his niche as a cold-blooded killer, he must throw the FBI off-track by pining blame for the latest series of murders on the deceased Special Agent Strahm.

Meanwhile a box left for Jigsaw’s ex-wife Jill (Betsy Russell) outlines a new game targeting a health insurance CEO (Peter Outbridge). All Hoffman and Jill need to do is set the game into motion, and the criminal mastermind’s evil conspiracy will finally get revealed. As the narrative progresses a plethora of traps get revealed, each one of which is capable of delivering gory payoffs in the form of quick splashes of blood and an indecipherable mélange of body parts and internal organs. The only drawback is that the film has too many flashbacks. So many, in fact, that if you haven’t seen all the previous Saw films, you will find it difficult to understand the storyline of Saw VI.

Wii Fit Plus

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

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So you have been under the impression that playing a video game necessarily entails turning into a couch potato. That is not going to be the case if you get hold of the Wii Fit Plus, whose content is embellished with yoga, strength training exercises, aerobics and all sorts of balance games. Workout mavens have been lapping up this game at an ever-increasing pace, and it shows in the sales figures – since its launch Wii Fit Plus has sold millions of copies. A Wii Balance Board controller that is part of the setup is meant for you to stand on, so that the device can track your weight and shift in your balance. While playing, or should we say exercising, you will be able to track the calories that you have burnt, and also create a personalized workout routine from the repertoire of exercises in the game’s ensemble. All you need to do is select the “My Routine” option and then drag and drop all the yoga and strength-training exercises that you wish to indulge in.

Price – $19.99
With Balance Board – $99.99

Embassy India GPS

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

embassyThe rigmarole of driving on Indian roads does not have to be such a confusing chore. Just get hold of a navigational system, like the newly launched Embassy India GPS. It comes packed with the most up to date maps of as many as 200 Indian cities and towns. And the best thing is that the GPS system also contains authentic information on POI’s (Point of Interest), which means, places like hotels, hospitals, restaurants, ATM’s, petrol pumps, and much else. Nifty, isn’t it? Next time when you leave with your girlfriend on a really long highway journey across India, you don’t have to stop the car and inquire about directions every few kilometers. In addition, the 4.3” Samsung color LCD screen is capable of giving DVD picture quality while the bluetooth option makes it a breeze for hands-free driving.

Price – Rs. 14,999

Ulrich Lang Nightscape

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

nightscape

If you could somehow translate the visual sensation of a glittering vast city like New York at nighttime into the aromatic realm, then a fragrance like Ulrich Lang Nightscape is what you would get. Quite literally this sensual and mysterious cologne evokes the aura that is symptomatic of nightlife in a big city. It is also a modern take on Patchouli. Wear it to enchant the world with top notes from bergamot, floral heart notes from jasmine and geranium, and a base soft leather note from the ensemble of musk, amber, tonka bean and patchouli. Best suited for a young man who prefers to wear his city attitude on his neck and wrists.

Price – $110

Aziz Ansari on the Late Show with David Letterman (10/13/09)

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
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Reader Feedback (Best letter wins Paul Smith cologne)

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

ronak vyas Hey everyone my name is Ronak Vyas and I’m the Editor-in-Chief of Royal. We’re looking for feedback from you, our dear readers, so we can continue to grow and improve. The best letter of the month receives the newly launched cologne, Paul Smith Man. Other participants receive old issues of the magazine. Your feedback can be in the form of comments below or you can email me personally at rvyas@royalmag.net

Thanks. I look forward to hearing from you.

Creative Zen X-Fi2

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

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Creative’s first touch-screen MP3 player is now available. Allowing multiple audio formats and a slew of innovative features make this gadget worth a second look. The incorporation of Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC) is a major factor that delivers audio without compromising on original quality. There is support for the much-desired iTunes Plus system. But the best thing about X-Fi2 is that its interface is completely free of those fussy buttons; you can access the player’s features through a state of the art 3” TFT touchscreen. Music, photo or videos are going to pop up on the screen at a mere touch of your fingers. Available in three versions 8GB/16GB/32GB, the gizmo also has a microSD memory card slot that you can use to further enhance the storage space. Then there is the video out feature through which you can share your videos and photos on a big screen TV. By the way the built in mike is advanced enough for you to use during the making of some fascinating home audio files. Maybe, you can get your girlfriend to sing for you.Or maybe not.

Price – Starting at $129.99

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Sunblock

Monday, October 26th, 2009

Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sun Block SPF 50+ copy
From searing summer heat, to dust and all kinds of pollutants, from UV rays to the vagaries of substandard air-conditioning – if you are living in any Indian city, then your face has to endure a lot of daily punishment and can become dry, itchy and flaky as a result. So what can you do to protect your mug? Enter Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Sunblock! Neutrogena is a company of international repute that has now come up with a range of products that are tailor-made for Indian conditions.

Incorporation of state of the art Helioplex technology, and the addition of stabilized Avobenzone and Oxybenzone make the products from Neutrogena extremely effective in protecting your skin not only from the harmful UVB rays, which can cause sunburn, but also from UVA rays, which are capable of causing brown spots and wrinkles. Below is a list of Neutrogena products that you should look for when shopping for sun protection products:

Ultra Sheer SPF 50+

This clean and lightweight cream is capable of protecting your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. Being sweat proof and waterproof, it is extremely effective for days when you have an active schedule that may consist of swimming, jogging or a round of sports at the local club. Even if you are planning to take a walk down Bangalore’s roads, this cream is a must to protect your face from pollution as well as from the sun’s rays.

Price: Rupees 150 for 30ml
Rupees 425 for 88ml

Ultra Sheer Body Mist SPF 30

As light as minute droplets of water, this mist is capable of spreading an incredible aura around your skin, leaving it clean and fresh. Powered with patented Helioplex technology, Mist SPF 30 is also effective in defending the skin from exposure to harmful UV rays.

Price: Rupees 500 for 147gms

Age Shield Sunblock SPF 30

Powered by Helioplex technology and with an advanced sunscreen technology, the Age Shield Sunblock SPF 30 poses as an effective defense against both UVA and UVB rays. It also contains an array of anti-oxidant blends, which can prevent signs of premature aging from erupting on the surface of your skin.

Price: Rupees 450 for 118 ml

Music from Blue

Sunday, October 25th, 2009

So what happens when A R Rahman lets his hair down while composing an album! The answer is obvious – he manages to create an adrenalin pumping score called “Blue.” The high-octane music is designed to go exceedingly well with the action packed underwater visuals of the film. The number to watch out for is Chiggy Wiggy, which features international pop icon Kylie Minogue. Half way through this number, Kylie gets joined by Sonu Nigam, who slips in the sound of dohl and gives the song an Indian slant. The aficionados of romantic music are going to find solace in the number that goes, Aaj dil gustakh hai, rendered superbly by Shreya Ghoshal and Sukhwinder Singh.

This song has a contemporary and hip feel too it, thanks to some excellent strumming of acoustic guitar. Bhoola tujhe, sung by Rashid Ali takes off at a mellow pace initially, but gradually the tempo increases, leading to boisterous final notes. Shreya Ghoshal and Vijay Prakash team up to come up with a fast paced number, Fiqrana. Shreya Ghoshal and Sonu Nigam deliver an extremely sensual song, Rehnuma, which is replete with influences of jazz. Yaar mil tha, comes up with a marvelous blend of Western and Indian styles of music and has vocals from Udit Narayan and Madhushree. Overall, the album has just about everything to woo the younger generation of Indians.

In Blue, A R Rahman has proved once again that he is the best when it comes to creating musical scores for high budget Bollywood films.

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Book review: Slumgirl Dreaming

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

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Title: Slumgirl Dreaming
Author: Rubina Ali
Publisher: Random House
Pages: Pages 184
Price: Rupees 176

There is no doubt that Rubina Ali is one in a million slum girl. At the tender age of nine she was plucked out of a group of about five hundred slum children who had been invited to audition for Danny Boyle’s multi-Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire. After that she had a fairytale ride to the pinnacle of international stardom. And now she has come out with a best selling book of her own. This could perhaps be the first best-selling book in India that is written by a celebrity who is under ten. Much of 175-page book focuses on her experience of shooting of the film, the film’s Oscar run and life after international stardom had been thrust on her. By analyzing its hypocrisies through the prism of the nagging realities of her slum life, she has a way of making Hollywood sound outrageous.

But it is also apparent that after having experienced Hollywood, slum life is much more harder for her to tolerate. Suddenly she has started noticing the rats, cockroaches, mosquitoes and general squalor in which she had lived all her life. How can she ever forget the luxurious five star hotel room in Hollywood whose bathrooms were larger than her slum hut, and the living room was big enough for her to cycle around in. While in Hollywood she even had the chance to shoot for a cold drink advertisement with Nicole Kidman, whom she found strange, because the milky-skinned actress refused to leave her room during the day, preferring to hide from the heat and the paparazzi. But it is precisely that kind of behavior that Rubina has started mimicking these days.

Such are the vagaries of life that an international star who is forced to exist in a dingy slum must tolerate. This is a unique and mesmerizing book that you don’t want to miss at any cost.

Motorola CLIQ

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

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If you really want to make a tryst with Google’s famed Android operating system, then the Motorola CLIQ poses as a good option. This gizmo boasts of a great keyboard, a highly customizable interface and strong integration with social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. But the feature that networking buffs are going to enjoy most comes in the form of an ultra fast integration with each and every Google service. Check Gmail on the go, update your profile on Orkut, and much else. A 5-megapixel camera also adds to the appeal and when it comes to style, you won’t find the CLIQ lacking. Available in mysterious black and winter white, this phone is totally geared to go with your wardrobe. Inside the corporate boardroom, or at a nightclub, with CLIQ you can make an impression in all kinds of places.

Price – $199