Merry Xmas and Happy New Years from all of us at Royal Magazine.
2010 promises to be a great year with a feature of Livvy Lars (pictured left) as the Queen of the Month in the upcoming issue.
Archive for December, 2009
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year!
Saturday, December 26th, 2009Music Review of My Name is Khan
Friday, December 25th, 2009
Being racially profiled and strip-searched can be traumatic for any member of the minority community, but that is what many hapless people from this part of the world are made to experience every time they visit US. Even the legendary Shahrukh Khan is not spared the ignominy and the frustration of being searched at US airports. That is what the film My Name is Khan is all about. However, just because the storyline is based on a grim subject, it does not mean that the music has to be lackluster. In fact, the thoughtful music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy is completely geared to strike a chord with lovers of quality music. The album has 10 tracks and the best thing is that it comes packed with some extra delights in the form of hit songs from Karan Johar’s previous films. So along with numbers form My Name is Khan, you also get to enjoy songs such as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Suraj Hua Maddham. The first song in the album is Sajda, crooned mellifluously by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Shankar Mahadevan and Richa Sharma. Adnan Sami, Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal lend their vocals to Noor E Khuda. Tere Naina is a romantic number by Shafqat Amanat Ali. Then there is the Khan Theme played out in fast paced instrumental style, which is somewhat jingoistic. Shankar Mahadevan and Suraj Jagan conjure an inimitable romantic ambiance in their song Rang De. The other four songs are from Karan Johar’s earlier films. This album will especially appeal to those who have a taste for mellow and romantic music.
Chance pe Dance Music Review
Thursday, December 24th, 2009
Film: Chance Pe Dance
Music Director: Adnan Sami
If you are big Adnan Sami fan then it is time to put your dancing shoes on and start shaking your leg to the tunes of Chance pe Dance. The album opens with guest composer Pritam’s “Pe..Pe..Pepein…” which is a chartbuster with strong Punjabi flavour. Even though the song begins with wedding music in the background, it evokes a Western feeling mainly due to the rap style rendition by Hard Kaur and vocals by Master Saleem and Neeraj Sridhar. The next song in the album is the “Pump it up”, an out and out rock track that has Vishal Dadlani behind the mike. Incorporation of music from dhol and electric guitar only add to the appeal of this number. But it is in the song, “Pal Mein Hi” that Adnan Sami gets the chance to don his mushy and melodic avatar. The vocals from Soham and Shreya Ghoshal are replete with the feeling of freshness and romance.
With “One More Dance” the album is back to being what it is all about – high octane dancing. There is the feeling of techno razzmatazz in the music of this song and the presentation is completely contemporary. “Yaba Daba Yahoo” has vocals by the inimitable Kunal Ganjawala and the music is meant to motivate everyone to huddle up on the dance floor. The next number in the album has Shaan and Tulsi Kumar crooning, “Rishta Hai Mera” in a rather romantic and mushy manner. The last number is “Just do it”, which turns out to be an adrenalin pumping rap track whose lyrics are littered with really funny words from everyday vocabulary. On the whole, if you are on the prowl for music that can have you and your friends dancing with abandon, then Chance pe Dance is the album that you have to go in for.
Music Review of Tum Mile
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
Title: Tum Mile
Music Director: Pritam Chakraborty
Lyricists: Sayeed Quadri and Kumar
Singers: KK, Mohit Chauhan, Javed Ali, Neeraj Shridhar and Shafqat Amanat Ali
When it comes to latest music from Bollywood, Pritam Chakraborty is clearly the uncrowned king. He has made it a habit of churning out riveting tunes in film after film. The album for Tum Mile is no different, in the sense that it is blessed with an array of really enticing numbers. The title song Tum Mile comes in three different versions, crooned by three singers. The first version has Neeraj Shridhar mouthing a bouncy song that has a Westernized lilt to it, not only due to the rocking music, but also due to the incorporation of quite a few English words. Then comesJaved Ali’s musical rendition, which is kind of mushy and has a distinct romantic feel to it. The third version of the song is a rocking number sung with great panache by the inimitable Shafqat Amanat Ali.
But it is Dil Ibadat that is clearly geared to be the biggest chart-buster in this album. Highly passionate vocals by KK and a soft paced music by Pritam manage to conjure a surreal aura around this song. Then comes Tu hi haqeeqat, which evokes the feeling of Sufi influence. Crooned by Javed Ali, the soulful number is a delight to hear owing to its lyrics and great orchestration. Mohit Chauhan has lent his vocals to Iss Jahan mein, which has a bit of Jazz and Indi pop rolled into it. KK is back with Oh meri jaan, a slow and emotional track. At the end of the album there comes the Soul Of Tum Mile, a four minute long track of adrenalin pumping music that begins with the sound of thunderstorm. On the whole this album is well rounded.
Free Realms
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009
This is a MMO (Multi Player Online) game like none other. There is no software to buy or install. The game streams directly from the browser, as players enjoy the liberty of creating a character of their own choice in the 3D world of Free Realms. All you need is a good broadband connection to log in. Here you can choose an avatar that is either a human (male or female) or a pixie. You also get the chance to pick up faces, skin types, clothing and many other basic features. Once you have the avatar of your choice you are free to explore this rollicking world and have a whole lot of fun.
Once created, these characters will live on the game’s server, which is geared to act as a Facebook-like interface, with great potential for social networking. Players can easily access their friends list to see who is online and get updates on how their friends are doing in the Free Realms game. This allows players to automatically join friends as they play different mini-games or explore the lush 3D Free Realms world, which is already full of thousands of other players. As if the vibrant landscape is not enough reason to rejoice, there is also the funky wildlife with which you can interact. During the initial stages much of the action takes place in an area called the Sacred Groove.
You can cooperate or compete with other players and even engage in exciting online battles. In fact, the gameplay mechanics range from exploration, combat, building, pet training, mini-games, social networking and much else. You can also search for lost treasure and unlock special jobs like Ninja, Explorer and Wizard.
Website: http://www.freerealms.com/
Hilfiger Cologne
Friday, December 18th, 2009
If you’re going on a hot date tonight, then Hilfiger is the cologne that you must wear. Neat, distinctive and exceedingly manly, this fragrance is strong enough to be with you even after you have taken a motorcycle ride through the wind swept countryside. Hilfiger is seductive with a magnificent intermingling of Bergamot, Mandarin and enlivening Pink Grapefruit. Wafting notes of Juniper and Rosemary combine with minute traces of Papaya to construe the high-octane feeling of thrill and sensuality. Even the bottle, embellished by simple and strong lines of the glass and topped by a silvery cap has a macho feel to it. This is a decidedly urban cologne that Indian men are surely going to relish wearing.
MOTORAZR2 V9 Ferrari Special Edition
Friday, December 18th, 2009
When Motorola and Ferrari mate with each other, you expect them to produce a gizmo packed with incredible oomph. That is precisely what the MOTORAZR2 V9 Ferrari Special Edition is geared to do. This gizmo comes embellished with special Ferrari content – a checker flag pattern, red accents, a Ferrari-branded leather case, and on its back, it carries an etched image of the famous Ferrari logo. So if you are a racing aficionado and a diehard Ferrari fan, this phone is a must for you.
Configured from a combination of plastic, metal and glass, the phone feels quite solid; its design is magnificently sleek and stylish. There is a 2-megapixel camera with 8X zoom. The included music player supports a variety of audio formats and is good enough to provide you with superb entertainment on the go. By the way, this Motorola phone can also be used to avail of a fast paced access to the Ferrari online community.
Jackpot City (AD)
Monday, December 14th, 2009
Metro 2033
Monday, December 14th, 2009This game is based on Russian author Dmitry Glukhovsky’s novel titled Metro 2033, which enjoys cult status in Eastern European countries. Imagine a scenario where the entire world lies in ruins. Civilization has been wiped out; humanity has been almost annihilated. The radiation levels in areas where the cities once existed is so high that humans simply can’t survive, but that does not mean these areas are free of life. There are creatures that have mutated due to the radiation and have adapted to the changed conditions of the planet.
Small clusters of humanity survive in far-flung areas of the Earth, but these survivors face terrible danger from the mutants. In the Moscow Metro about 10,000 humans are camped. But the mutants are milling around and it is only a matter of time before a war erupts. You play as Artyom, who was born in the last days before the fire, but was raised underground. It is your task to fight the mutants and be the savior of humanity. There is enough gun and gore going around to keep you riveted with excitement. Your best weapons are your gas mask, which protects you from the poisoned atmosphere, and a high calibre gun, with which you can blast off the mutants. A creation of THQ, this game can be played on Windows PC and on XBOX 360.
Price – $49.99
Sport Football (AD)
Monday, December 14th, 2009
Chivas Studio 09 Pictures (Bangalore)
Monday, December 7th, 2009
Collection by Surily Goel
A Design by Rohit Bal
Diana Penty walking the ramp for Wendell Rodriks
Another design by Rohit Bal
Lisa Hayden walking the ramp for Surily Goel
Lisa Hayden with Surily Goel
Lisa Hayden, Surily Goel, Wendell Rodricks and Diana Penty
Models showcasing the collection by Gauri and Nainika
Nainika and Gauri with Pia Trivedi
Nina Manuel with Rohit Bal
Mansion Poker (AD)
Sunday, December 6th, 2009
The Saboteur
Saturday, December 5th, 2009
As you get sucked into the labyrinths of this exciting video game, you find yourself transported to Nazi occupied Europe, where you play the role of a quintessential saboteur, who will use explosive tactics to destroy the Nazis and turn the tide of war in favor of the Allies. The setting is sexy, action packed and eminently dangerous. The colorful cast of characters populating this game are seem straight out of the World War II era. You play in the role of Sean Devlin, a womanizer and a drunkard, who has fled from his native Ireland to try his luck at race car driving in Grand Paris. He ignores the Nazis around him until Nazi soldiers kill some of his friends. Furious at the death of his friends, he vows revenge. He becomes a saboteur, a man who will stop at nothing in order to defeat his enemies.
In his quest for revenge, Devlin is helped by French resistance and by British intelligence. But much of the work of sabotage he does by himself. He is an experienced brawler, capable of killing with a single punch. He is also an ace marksman, and an explosives expert. And when he gets going, there is sabotage in every direction. Zeppelins get blown apart, trains get derailed, bridges implode, armored cars get blown into bits and enemy facilities get leveled to the ground. Needless to say, such monumental destruction is tailor made to deliver excitement. Essentially you are a one-man army, delivering massive punishment to the Nazis and that’s going to be a lot of fun.
Published by Electronic Arts, this game can be played on XBOX 360, PS3, and Windows.
