Happy New Year Everybody!

Hope this is a start of an amazing 2012 for all my readers. Hopefully, I'll be able to improve and bring better content to my readers. I know it is not New Years Eve but I leave you with this awesome song from Zooey Deschanel and my love Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Very Merry Punjabi Christmas 2011!

Hope you all have a good fun today.

The Year End-Review: Korean Entertainment Industry.

As you might have noticed, I haven't been posting much this December. I think I've exerted myself too much in November and am taking the time off to relax and enjoy company with the family. Which is why I decided not to blog or write a special post for the one year blog anniversery on December 16. I've been really enjoying  my time off and cannot believe Christmas is day after tomorrow. To make up for my lack of existence on the blogosphere, I'll do a mega post for all my wonderful readers. This post is about the best of 2011 in the Korean Entertainment Industry.

2011 The Year of Scandal

In my short four years of being a fan of korean dramas and music, I had never seen so much drama in the Korean entertainment industry. All the scandals of 2011 more than made up those four years that were bereft of any serious gossip. I mean this year more than topped the DBSK scandal. Let's see, there was Kara's contract disputes,  Han Ye Sul's breakdown on the sets of Spy Myung Wol. There was the tragic Daesung Car Accident and also Kang Ho Dong's fraudulent tax issue and his fall in the entertainment industry. GD was caught smoking dope! There was also the incident of an alleged sex tape of a famous Korean entertainer. But nothing, prepared us for the Lee Ji Ah bombshell when it was revealed that she was married to Seo Taji. I mean, come on that was shocking to everyone especially since she was romancing the gorgeous Jung Woo-Sung.

Therefore, the Queen of Scandal for 2011 is Lee Ji Ah!

2011 The Year of K-pop International Hysteria.

This is the year when K-pop got noticed by the West. There were the successful SM Town concerts in Paris and New York. Then, there were the United Cube Concert in London and Sao Paulo. Big Bang shocked everyone by winning the Best World Wide Act at MTV EMA. 2ne1 followed by winning MTV Iggy's Best new band and performing a concert in NY. SNSD released their English album and their new remix features Snoop Dog.

I can't pick a winner but will say 2ne1 and Will.I.AM collab might have a chance to breakthrough in USA.

2011 The Year of Sexy K-pop

Hyuna's Bubble Pop racked up over 20+ million views. Her collaboration with the adorable Hyunseng is a legit hit. Other k-pop group to bring sexy back were Brown Eyed Girls and Big Bang. Tasha and Tiger Jk aren't pop but they are sexy and confident.

Hyuna because she sells! Tasha and Tiger Jk because they smoulder.

2011 The Year of Celebrity Couple

Lots of famous celebrities revealed their relationships. Jun Hyung and Kara are a couple. Hyori Lee is dating a semi-famous dude. Sun Ye of Wonder Girls is dating a non celebrity. Lee Min Ho and Park Min Young are also dating.

My favourite couple are Lee Min Ho and Park Min Young because they are hawt! Let's just hope Korean celebrities continue to get support from fans and feel comfortable enough to reveal their relationships to the public.

2011 The Year of Japanese Expansion

Every year, Korean groups crossover to Japan in order to gain foothold in the world's second largest music industry. This year the sheer number of groups debuting in Japan was maddening. SuJu, 2ne1, SNSD, Shinee, After School, T-ara, MBLAQ all made their expansion to Japan this year. Some did well and some outright flopped.

SNSD because their Japanese songs were really good and their concept mature.

Overall, this was one of the most interesting year in the Korean Entertainment Industry. Let's just hope 2012 is just as fruitful.

Kim Jong-Il is dead!

Yeah, so he finally passed away. Kim Jong-un will be his successor. What a year! Osama, Gaddafi and now Kim Jong-Il. Now, if only Mugabe also ends up in the hell with them, I can truly call 2011 a splendid year.
Here is a link to The Globe and Mail. Read the rest here.

P.S: Reading a variety of opinions, there is consensus that change is unlikely at least in the near future. China controls Korea and has the most to gain or lose. Let's see, what happens. For the sake of poor North Koreans, hope they get freedom.

Troublemaker MV feat. Hyuna and Hyunseung

So, the another big moment of MAMA 2011 was the "faux-kiss" between Hyuna and Hyunseung. They dropped the music video and I surprisingly like the song. I like Hyunseung's singing and glad the boy is getting attention. Hyuna looks pretty but I hope Cube gives the same attention to other 4 minute members also. Ji Hyung can sing, give the girl more activities.

2011 MAMA in Singapore

So, the Mnet Awards are a sham and it is the most popular artists who win the ward. This is why 4men and Brown Eyed Girls didn't win. Quite a few SuJu fans were butthurt since they didn't win all the awards. Come on people, SuJu won Album of the year, what more do you want. The performances at the wards were more enjoyable. My fave were Koda Kumi, 2ne1, Super Junior and Beast. Oh, Cl killed it on stage with Will. I. am and apl.de.ap. here are some performances I liked.

Why this Kolaveri di ?

Oh man, I tried to avoid this song as long as possible. I know it has gone viral and I can totally see why? Now, I have succumbed to it and was sending it to all friends and family in Canada. The song is da bomb :D

P.S: Kolaveri means 'murderous rage' in tamil. I googled it.

Harry Potter Explained in 99 seconds by Paint

So, these awesomely talented guys made a video and it is a must watch. Harry Potter Fans rejoice :D

P.S: You can buy this song on itunes.

"Don 2 : Zara dil ko thaam lo" feat. SRK and Lara Dutta

So, the new song from Don 2 is out. It is okay. I think it started out strong and then mid way I was like meh. I still like Shankaar Ehsaan Loy and hope they release stronger music. BTW, Lara is so pretty.

SM Entertainment 2012 Global Auditions!

Check out this video by SM Town. The Global Auditions are here and yes they are coming to Canada. Remember they discovered Henry Lau in Toronto.

Drama Updates 2011

Just letting you know about Dramas I am watching or want to watch. First up, I am absolutely loving Vampire Prosecutor. The acting is fine and the story is superb. Yun Jung Hoon is soooo hawt!

Secondly, lots of buzz about Flower Boy Ramyun shop. I still do not have the time to watch it but I'll add it to my list of dramas I will be catching up in December. Dramabeans is recapping this and Vampire Prosecutor. I am also looking forward to Padam Padam. Cannot wait to see my Kim Bum. He looks so manly in the promo pics.

The Taiwanese Drama Office Girls also sounds goods. I have not seen this type of buzz surrounding a drama after Fated to Love You. A Koala's Playground has started to recap this. I am excited and looking forward to the Taiwanese live action adaptation of Skip Beat. Cannot Wait!

In terms of my American TV watching, I have started to watch Happy Endings. It has great cast chemistry and very funny. For some reason The Good Wife has been sorta meh this season. Revenge is an awesome nighttime soapy drama. Person of Interest is also super good. Grimm looks promising as long as I see more of the big bad wolf. He consistently gets the best lines. The Mentalist is decent and so is Criminal Minds. So here ends my drama updates for y'all.

P.S: Both Vampire Prosecutor and Flower Boy Ramyun shop are on Drama Fever.

T-ara Cry Cry MV feat. Cha Seung Won!

I couldn't post this earlier because my speakers weren't working. Man, this video is amazing! I was engrossed in the story the whole time. I love the song. I know a lot of people think T-ara's songs are garbage. I personally found songs like Bo-peep fun. But, this songs truly shows their singing talent. Love it. Go girls!

Toronto the least favourite city in Canada!

Source:torontorealestatedirect.com

So, there was a poll asking Canadians about their opinions on Canadian cities. Surprise, surprise Toronto came out as the most hated. You can read the rest of the article here. What I found amusing is that I am from the suburbs but regularly go to downtown core for education. My brother and I were talking about how during the first time we got lost in the city, the people were nice enough to point at the nearest TTC station. I also have never felt unsafe there although there are places and neighbourhoods with higher crime. Love Toronto and its people.

2ne1 Wins MTV Iggy's Best band in the world!

Right after Big Bang's win at MTV EMA, another YG group has proved their mettle. So, all the blackjacks including moi voted for the ladies and they won. They will be headlining a concert in New York. Read for more details at MTV Iggy.

K-pop and Fetishism

Source; profilethai.com

I was listening to MBLAQ's 'Y' and suddenly it occurred to me that K-pop is full of people trying to cater to people's taste in certain body/personlaity  type. The obvious way to see this is how the  groups are marketed. It is no secret that 2PM are marketed as 'beastly men'. Their selling point is their manly physique and muscles. The obvious fetish here is the obsession over uber masculine bodies. Then you have Shinee, a flower boy group. The boys are all pretty with great skin, they are lean, tall and have androgynous features. If we go past the body and shape differences, you also see idol groups being catered toward certain personality type. You have the quiet one (Minho of Shinee) or the eccentric one (Heechul of Super Junior). What is interesting is how within an idol group such as MBLAQ, the boys are also marketed as certain stereotypes. For example in MBLAQ, Thunder is the cute one. Mir is the maknae/underage kid.* Joon is the jock/muscular type, G.O is the intellectual while Seung Ho is the boy next door. If you look at other boy groups you will find the same parallel. The same differentiation  of specific attributes within an idol group apply to both male and female groups. SNSD is the cute group and famous for their aegyo and sexiness. I find it interesting that how much of their MVs and choreography focuses on their legs. All the outfits are made to accentuate a certain body part and is a clear example of fetishization. 2ne1 is the fierce group and like a lot of groups has a sexy one (Bom), underage/maknae (Minzy), cute one (Dara), the fierce/rebel girl (CL). What is interesting to me is how many of these idol groups actively pander to a specific market. While Noonas (older women) make the biggest fan demographic for Shinee, Ahjussis (older men) makeup the biggest fan demographic for Girl's Generation. Some of the fetishization is not problematic (I guess) but as this  group demonstrates, marketing a group based on a specific physical attribute can backfire. I am no psychologist or sociologist but I wonder if all these pandering to people's fetishes has either a positive/negative consequence for the Korean society. I dunno, I want to know. I also wonder how much manga/manhwa culture has affected k-pop groups.

* Mir is of course legal now just like Taemin but his youth was one of the selling points.

Big Bang Wins 'Best Worldwide Act' at MTV EMA 2011

Congrats VIPs! Big Bang won the awards at this year's European Music Awards. No group needed the win more than them. After the whole Daesung and GD debacle, the group needed a positive news. Woo hoo! To all the naysayers who were saying this group was losing popularity, all the VIPs just proved the opposite. Extra brownies for beating Britney. YAY!

Via: allkpop.com

Wonder Girls 'Be my Baby"

Wonder Girls released their new album. I do like the album as a whole. This song on the other hand might not beat SNSD 'The Boys.' I think this song is confused and needed more time to find its identity. It was all over the place. The choreography I am sure will become very popular but I didn't like it. Hopefully, the more worthy songs on the album will get their own MV.

Top 5 sexy Indian actors

I didn't feel like posting this week. I've been battling a nasty cold and been inundated with loads of work. I am trying to make it up with pics of hot Indian men. Enjoy!

5. Dino Morea

Source: surfindia.com

Remember Dino Morea? He was extremely popular as a model in the  90's and the early 2000's. Too bad he cannot act and his movies are atrocious. But, he's very good looking eh? 

4. Marc Robinson

Source: delhibase.com

I was just a little girl when I first saw Marc in Alisha Chinai's video. Had a very huge crush on him since then. He's old now but still think he is one of the most handsome men.

3. John Abraham

 





Souce: lifestyle.iloveindia.com

John will always be known as one of the sexiest Indian actors. He's just too handsome.

2. Vidyut Jamwal

Source: timesofindia.com

When I saw the movie Force, I could not keep my eyes off this man. He can act and his gaze is smouldering.  

1. Miland Soman

Source: nowrunning.com

My first crush. No one can top him. India's first male supermodel. His acting career didn't pan out that well. But, still love him. 



SNSD: The boys, English version!

So, I finally have the English version. What this video made me realize is that how many times I accept mediocrity in k-pop because I love K-pop and I make up excuses for less than stellar material. I hated the English version. I must add that the girls did a great job singing in English. Only 2 girls are fluent in English but I thought all of them had good pronunciations. No ling ding dong or shuper Junior in this video. It is just that English is my language and I am harder on American singers. I just cannot see this song breaking SNSD into America and becoming successfull. It is not the girls fault but that SM constantly gives them crappy material. Hiring Teddy Riley does not result in stellar material. American Pop is dominated right now by Lady Gaga. How the hell is this song supposed to compete with her? As of now, I recommend listening to the  Korean version. Until k-pop brings an act that is decent in English, I'll keep listening to Vampire Weekend, Das Racist, MGMT and Gaga.

SNSD: The Boys Korean Version

So, my recent inactivity probably signals everyone that I've been crazy busy this last week. I've decided to post Korean version of SNSD's new song. I couldn't get the English one as it is unavailable in Canada! Um, I am sure someone will post up the English version for all us Canadians to enjoy. I am not commenting on the song until I hear the English version.

G DRAGON smokes dope and other links!

What is with Korea this year? I swear there have been more scandals in 2011 than previous three years.
Anyhoo, GD smoked Marijuana and well got caught. Since, it was accidental, the police let him go. Still, what about the kids. Now, I will always look at "High High" suspiciously. Read the rest of the story here.
 BTW, kids DO NOT DO DRUGS! SMOKING IS BAD, VERY BAD!

Meet Kim Jong Il's Grandson! Unlike gramps, he actually supports democracy.

Why I Dislike PETA. Yes, I am a Vegetarian!

Nikita (TV Show) Being Shot at University of Toronto

So, today I was passing by a part of University and saw a bunch of trailers. I looked at them closely and they were for the CW show Nikita. It is not the first time they've shot there because I saw these trailers last year too. But, this year actually looked at them closely saw Nikita posted on the doors. No, I didn't see Maggie. I've got no pictures because just when I tried to take one from my cell, a big security guy walked by and stared at me. I didn't dare. Still think its pretty cool that there were trailers right outside my classroom.

Gummy's Japanese debut and Shinee's Japanese Lucifer!

Here are two songs that couldn't be more different. Whereas Gummy's song sounds exquisite in Japanese, Lucifer doesn't fare that well. Moreover, the stylist spent a lot of effort to dress the guys in hideous outfits. WTH was on Taemin's head? Gummy also wins 'cause she's got T.O.P!

SHinee's Lucifer!

Force is Out!

So, the movie Force released today starring John Abraham and Genelia D'souza. To be honest not too keen on the movie. But, I am bored so maybe I'll wind up watching it anyway. I am however interested in Dookudu, a Telugu movie starring Mahesh Babu. I really wanna see it and yes it will be my first Telugu movie.


Dookudu Movie Trailer

Vote for 2ne1 on MTV's Next Global Star

Here is the link. Go vote for them and if you are a fan of Atif Aslam you can pepper him with some love too.

Mere Brother Ki Dulhan Soundtrack Appreciation

After Delhi belly, this is the movie where I liked all of the songs. Seriously guys, it is worth buying the CD for this movie or you can download all the songs on your ipod.

The movie opens with the title song. I can totally see this song becoming very popular in weddings. I like the Punjabi flavour of this song and love the dhols. The music video references a lot of other Movies.

The next song is Dhunki. Love the pop rock feel to it. I love Katrina's grey tank top in the video. Want so badly. I even went to Forever 21 to look for something similar. Choomantar has been playing in my head for too long. I think this is a great song to sing along to. Perfect Karoke song. Isq Risk is more earthy and soulful. Nice romantic song peppered with sadness! Madhubala is sung by Ali Zafar and is just so fun. Will be popular during Holi. This is the item song of this movie and I find the video funny. I think it kinda parodies item number in a subtle way or maybe it is just me. I like the song though.

So long Summer...

So, today is officially the start of Autumn. The leaves have started to turn colour, the weather has turned gray and the air is crisp and cool. I'll miss summer, the crazy humidity we have in Toronto, the clear blue skies, the pretty flowers.

So, here let me share some of my Summer memories:

I ate Greasy Indian food at a restaurant on my Dad's birthday.

Yum, I love Malai Kofta



I spent some time outdoors.

Scored some comic books at a Garage Sale in my neighbourhood. This is just a small sampling.

Ate some delicious homemade South Indian Food on Onam.

Tried on my sister's bling and enjoyed some awesome K-dramas.



Happy Birthday Key and other Shinee news

So, I hate Shinee's Japanese version of Lucifer. It just doesn't sound good. On the other hand, it is Key's birthday. Woohoo!  I hope this boy gets more attention in Japan as he speaks better Japanese than Taemin. I don't hate my Taeminnie, its just I am just getting sick of him being at the centre of every frickin promo and activity they have in Japan.

Source:jongmoc via Ibarfoutrainbows

Brown Eyed Girls: Sixth Sense

So, the girls are back and they better win some awards on Music bank and Inkigayo because I like this song. The music video is fierce. I also find these girls can do sexy because they've got that added maturity and they look so confident doing it.

Ouran High School Host club Ep. 7 Link

Finally links to Ep. 7. It is raw but I recommend reading recaps at A Koala's Playground.

Also, link to my sister's tumblr. She is big Jaejoong fan so I expect lots of pics of him in the future. Also, Big Bang and Jang Geun Suk. Its pretty recent so not much stuff posted.

Seriously, am so tired from school. Yesterday was especially hellish because I came home late at night and had to read an article my prof. posted really late on the blackboard. Then, I had to wake up super early to catch my bus. I was seriously sleeping through my class. I hope to do a proper post tomorrow.

JYJ's 'In heaven'

Sorry for the lack of posts but I am back to school and very busy. Didn't even have the chance to watch Ouran High School Host Club and had to settle for recaps. Anyhoo, the new mv for JYJ's 'In heaven' is gorgeous. Love these guys and hope they have a chance to perform it on TV stations in Korea.

Kara's Step MV

So, Kara's comeback. YAY. To be perfectly honest, I enjoy their Variety appearances more than their music. But still glad they have a fun dance track for us all.



BTW, go to a Koala's playground for a post on Daito Shunsuke.

Pyar ki yeh ek kahaani: The Indian Vampire Diaries

When I heard there was an Indian vampire show, I was intrigued. So, this is an Indian show "loosely" based on Twilight and Vampire Diaries. It's got a female character (lead) that is the soul mate of our vampire but has a doppelganger who was the first love of the vampire and is now evil. Oh, well that is a direct copy of Vampire Diaries. It's also got a love triangle between a Vampire, human girl and a werewolf just like Twilight. I guess, Twilight was very popular in India. No, I am not watching the show. I am not interested in Vampire Diaries or Teen Wolf but I do like Supernatural. Jensen Ackles is my man. You can read more about the show at the Wiki page.

Here are the leads:

Abhay Raichand (the Vampire) played by Vivan Dsena.

Source: travelpod.com

Jeh Khurana (Werewolf) played by Rithvick Dhanjani

Source: india-forums.com

I just couldn't find a lot of pics of this guy.

Piya Dobryal (nice human girl) / Maithali (evil Vampire doopleganger) played by Sukriti Kandpal.

Source: mypera.com

I've only seen the promos for this show and it looks like none of them can act. The guy who plays Vampire looks constipated. It doesn't seem very good but if you are curious you can find episodes uploaded on Youtube. BTW, why are all the Indian soap stars so pasty. They only pick fair ones for TV shows.









The Dirty Picture trailer

You know why I have a girl crush on Vidya Balan! It's because she is fearless in her acting roles and doesn't mind playing a mom with a kid who has disability or a bollywood sex bomb of the 80's.

Vidya as Silk Smitha in The Dirty Picture.

Ouran High School host club Ep.6 Eng Sub

Here is the link for ep. 6. Enjoy. BTW, Ms. Koala is doing a post on Kyoya and Haruhi. Go to the links and check out her post.

Agneepath Trailer

The only reason I want to watch this movie is because of Hrithik Roshan.

Ra.One Chammak chhalo teaser

So, this is the song that Akon sang for Ra.One. SRK is playing a South Indian and I don't know if he's gonna do it convincingly. What the heck, I am still gonna watch this movie cuz I am curious. Kareena looks very pretty though.

G.Na's Bananas :D

Yes, I know they banned this song because of the word 'Banana'. It is so silly because they didn't ban Rania's Dr. Feel Good and it was so much more provocative than well banana. I like this song and still waiting for the full video. Come on Cube Entertainment.

Ouran High School Host Club Ep. 5

The link is from Anime Senpai. Couldn't find the new episode on Dailymotion! Sorry. BTW, I loved Kyoya in this episode and I totally ship him and Haruhi.

Promo for Preity Zinta's New Talk Show

Some times, I love Bollywood. Oh, Preity! I don't know if she'll make a good host. She does like to chat a lot. I think this is going to be a fun but very superficial talk show. I'll watch cuz I have a sweet spot for the girl.



BTW, this promo just killed me with the cheesy music, the fan blowing her air, the background dancers. Ooh, can't wait to watch this.

R.I.P Jack Layton!

For those of you who don't know who Jack Layton was, he was the leader of the Member of the Opposition at the House of Commons in Canada. He was also the man who worked hard and diligently for the success of his party (NDP). Jack lost the fight to cancer today. You can read more about this at the Globe and Mail link. I actually have see Jack campaign around my University and my Dad's actually talked to him. My Dad said he was gracious. Wonder what's gonna happen to NDP as Jack was truly behind its success in recent elections. My condolences to his family.

Force Trailer starring John Abraham and Genelia D'souza

Another Bollywood remake of a South Indian movie. I truly hope they stop with the remakes and invest in truly talented script writers who come up with original material. As for the movie trailer, Genelia looks cute and John very buff. Can't say I am too excited about the movie as the original was pretty violent. Also, hated Singham (another remake) so I guess I can only watch the ones with Salman Khan in it.

Ouran High School Host Club ep. 4

Episode 4 English Sub is out. Here is the link! Enjoy :D

We were there Live action

I just finished We were there/ Bokura ga Ita Vo. 12 and it really made me think how the  movie is going to pan out. I love this manga and find Yano so complex. It really pains me to see Takahashi hurt. They've signed Toma Ikuta as the lead. As much as I love him, I don't think he is a great actor. He better be great because you need someone with amazing acting skills to play Motoharu Yano. Yano is such a complex character. His smile might be hiding great pain and trauma and the actor needs to convey these emotions to us. Yuriko Yoshitaka's gonna play the female lead as Takahashi. She's cute and it seems like she might do a decent job. I am also okay with Sosuke Takaoka playing Takeuchi. I saw him in Battle Royale. Good actor! I hate Yamamoto so I am looking forward to see how Yuika Motokariya is going to play her. I hope she plays it well and make Yamamoto more sympathetic because I really dislike this character. Seriously, it is unhealthy for a person to cuss out an imaginary character.

Cast:

Motoharu Yano : Toma Ikuta

Source: asianpopcorn.com

Nanami Takahashi: Yuriko Yoshitaka

Source: asianpopcorn.com

Masafumi Takeuchi: Sosuke Takaoka

Source: listal.com

Yuri Yamamoto: Yuika Motokariya

Source: listal.com

Top 5 Canadian shows you should watch!

I love watching Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese dramas. They are fun, beautiful to watch and sometimes have storylines with incredible emotional depth (49 Days). But, there are also a lot of good Canadian dramas I watch. They've got some great actors, tight plots and are just entertaining. So, here goes my list of top 5 Canadian TV shows you must watch:


5. Little mosque on the Prairie


It's a Canadian sitcom about Muslims living in a small fictional town of Mercy and their interactions with other locals. What's so great about the show is how it deals with sensitive subjects such as racism, Islamophobia, etc. in a humorous way. It sort of diffuses the tension but also drives home the message. I like it shows variety of Muslims (religious, not very religious, conservative, feminists etc). Also, they do not caricature non-Muslim Canadians. Fun show, comedy is very family friendly. BTW, Carlo Rota of 24 fame also starred in this show.




4. Flashpoint


This was the Canadian show that proved Canadian shows can compete with American shows. It is shot beautifully and if you've lived in Toronto you probably saw some scenes being filmed. It is a cop drama but different from the preexisting ones. The show is about an elite tactical unit known as the SRU or the Strategic Response Unit and how they try to resolve conflict without taking the life of the criminal. Love the cast as it stars  Enrico Colantoni (Papa Mars from the awesome Veronica Mars) and Hugh Dillon.




3. Rookie Blue


I love this show. It is another cop show set in Toronto but I love the actors who are all hotties. The show is about 5 Rookie cops who graduated from Police Academy and learn to balance their professional lives with their personal ones. I love that the personal lives intersect with the professional lives, there is an overlap but they got to do their job. Full of talented cast, many of whom have starred in American TV shows previously.




2. Degrassi : The Next Generation


Who hasn't heard of this show? The show is set in fictional Degrassi Junior High and it follows the lives of Teenagers who go there. First up, confession time. Stopped watching the show after Season 9. I pretty much watched the show when Emma Nelson was on . The show is nominated for an Emmy this Year. They deal with heavy duty stuff like teen pregnancy, dating violence, homosexuality, suicide, bullying. Basically, everything that teenagers go through. Also, this show has created more Canadian Celebrities then any other show. Alumnus include rapper Drake, Shenae Grimes of 90210 Fame, Nina Dobrev of The Vampire Diaries fame, Landon Liboiron of upcoming Terra Nova.




1. Murdoch Mysteries


It is based on the novels by Maureen Jennings. The show is set in the 1890's and follows Detective Murdoch who uses modern inventions to solve crimes. Yannick Bisson plays the Detective Murdoch and he is awesome. I also love Constable George Crabtree and Julia. I find the costumes true to that period and it is just a beautiful show to watch.




P.S: My criteria for pickng these shows was a)are they entertaining, b) set in canada, c) have Canadian actors.
Most of these shows are shown in United States and in other countries also.

Delhi Belly : movie Review

Source: India-forums.com

I promised a movie review for Delhi Belly but became too busy. Well, I finally saw the movie and I liked it. It is a spoiler free review because I want y'all to see it yourself. The movie revolves around three friends Tashi, Nitin and Arup who are asked to drop off a package on behalf of Tashi's girlfriend Sonia. The guys make a mistake and it creates a huge misunderstanding and they get in a lot of trouble with some gangsters. 
The movie's plot was okay but what was refreshing about this movie was its openness. Previous Hindi comedies hinted at sex but were never brave enough to openly laugh about it. Well, this movie is full of toilet humor, swear words and sex which is a staple of many American comedies. My mom thought it was vulgar but she hasn't seen Harold and Kumar goes to White castle which is an excellent comedy BTW.
 But, I digress, I liked that the protagonists made mistakes, were more three dimensional. I enjoyed the realistic cinematography. I love seeing "real India". You know the one with bad infrastructure, cows, crazy traffic. With the exception of one song, most of the songs are used as background score and used very briefly. I was surprised because I liked the music videos. But, it worked overall and moved the plot along. Most of all, this movie made me laugh, a sign of a successful comedy.That's because that is the India I grew up in. Good comedy and I've come to expect some thing different from Mr. Aamir Khan.

My verdict: Watch it, it is funny.

p.s: There is an English version of this movie.

2PM "I am your man"

I preferred 2PM's Japanese single, " I am your man" more than Shinee's. Maybe it's because their single is original. I liked the video and how the guys were styled. They look very sharp in those suits.

Ouran High School Host Club Episode 3

So, episode 3 Eng sub is out. Here is the link. All credit goes to shanta3220. Enjoy. Ockoala is also recapping the series. Therefore, check out the links section for her site.

Shinee's Japanese Juliette

So, here is the long awaited Juliette video of Shinee in Japanese. My take is that why did they have to incorporate those ugly masks. Gah! Boys look good though and dance well. Okay, Key was styled badly and put in that ugly pink monstrosity. But, the boy is so fine, he can make anything look decent.







Via: allkpop, video by goodinthis.

Do you like the new template? (Update)

I know the header is kinda ugly but I really didn't have much time. I just did it really fast with paint. I hope to do a new header with image as a background but for that I need some time to play around with photoshop. I'll see how this new template works for me. If it doesn't I'll revert back to the old simple template. If you really hate it, please let me know.

Update: Okay, I only had it for few minutes before my sister told me she hated it and called it Ugly. So, I am back to my old template. Oh, well. I'll still try to experiment with the header sometime.

Super Junior's Mr. Simple

I do not know what I was expecting from Super Junior. The song I like. But, it didn't blow me away. They need a different sound. Anyhoo, they still look good except Heechul's hair which must go.

Heartstrings Preview ep. 10

Just saw the preview of Ep. 10 and had to share. Cannot wait for Wednesday.




Source: JYfuily123.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara Movie Review

So. during the long weekend, I had the pleasure of watching Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. It is a fun movie, I enjoyed the soundtrack which was very mellow. The story is about three best friends, one of whom is getting married and they all embark on a bachelor trip to Spain and learn about what really matters to them. I enjoyed the movie but I wondered how many Indians could really relate to this. These guys are good looking , wealthy and have a lot going for them. So, to see them deal with their problems was fun. But, most people cannot relate to this movie because really most of us do not have the luxury to resolve our conflicts during a trip to beautiful Spain. The cinematography was perfect. They really captured the beauty of Spain. The guys can all act and very easy on the eyes. Katrina isn't horrible and I think this movie has one of the best kisses in Indian Cinema. Big Props to the wardrobe person because I loved the way the men were styled.

Verdict: Enjoyed the movie and I'll recommend it simply for its cinematography.

Ouran High School Host club Episode 1

So, it has been uploaded on dailymotion. It has Eng Sub.  Here is the link. Go watch it. It is awesome ;D

P.S: I'll keep an eye on an upload on Youtube.
P.P.S: If you check out the link, you should see ep 2 also on the sidebar.

Protect the Boss trailer starring Jaejoong!

After Yoochun's great performance in Miss Ripley, it is now up to Jaejoong of JYJ to show his awesome acting skills. Actually, I do not know if he is a good actor. But, I miss him and after the fiasco of KBS, I cannot wait to see him in this drama. This show looks so funny. All the actors seem to have good chemistry. Jaejoong Fighting!





P.S: I am also watching Scent of a Women and loving my Lee Dong Wookie.






Via: allkpop, video by JYJ subs.

Ouran High School Host Club preview and cast interview!

So, the first preview is out. Sorry, the subs are Czech. I know, I'll try to find one with eng sub. I also included an interview with english subs.

2ne1's Ugly MV

So, the latest single from 2ne1 is out and they released the music video for  Ugly today. I like this song, it is different from the usual cutesy pop. The message is bold. But, these girls, they aren't Ugly, are they? So beautiful each one of them. However, a lot of pretty girls feel insecure and do think they are ugly. So, it is all about inner confidence which these girls do have in abundance in real life.

Promotional Stills of Ouran High School Host Club Live action

So, the first pictures were released of the main cast members and they look great. I can't wait to watch this drama. You can see the rest at tokyohive.

Mausam trailer

So, the long awaited trailer of Mausam starring Shahid Kapur is out. I really don't understand what this movie is about. The only reason I am looking forward to this is because I wanna see Shahid in a movie again.

SM town in Canada?

Before I went on mini hiatus, I had mentioned that there was a flash mob held by fans in Toronto to bring SM town in Canada. Well, here's the video. Yes, I do want SM town here. I wanna see SuJu and Shinee live.




This is actually a series of videos posted by someone. I find it funny that it was held right across my university at Queen's Park.

2NE1's Hate You

Check out 2ne1's newest single, I hate you. I really enjoyed the animated video and the song is good.



P.S: I know a lot of people did not get to see the 2ne1 season 3 episode on MNET. Well, on 2ne1's channel, they have uploaded episode 1 of Season 3.

Trailers galore: Don 2, Singham and Meri Brother ki Dulhan

So, while I was on mini hiatus, the world of bollywood released three new trailers. Check them out!

First up is Don 2 which will release this Christmas. Looks slick.



Singham is a remake of a popular Tamil movie. Must say Ajay worked hard for that bod.



Mere brother ki dulhan looks cute. I like Ali Zafar and Imran Khan. They look good with Katrina.



P.S: Saw Harry Potter in theatre. It was so good. I cried during the Snape part. Snape is one of the best well written characters in the series eh?

Back to blogging!

Just letting you know I have resolved the personal problem and will be blogging again. So, please look forward to future posts as I've got a lot to blog about. Thanks :D

2ne1tv Live on mnet streaming on Youtube!

No, I will still not be blogging full time this week. Just making a brief appearance on the blog letting you know you can watch the rerun of ep 1 of 2ne1tv live on youtube at mnet's page. It streams today at 8pm pacific time. Enjoy!

An apology to the readers!

Sorry, I am currently going through some personal issues. Until, they are resolved I will not be blogging. It shouldn't really take very long, maybe a week or two at the most.

Update: Good news! I am back to blogging as I've resolved the personal problems. The bad news is that I am still without internet. No matter what, I am happy I can fully concentrate on blogging.

Mumbai Blasts 2011

So, Mumbai got attacked again. Was I surprised? No. Mumbai has a history of getting attacked. Was I saddened? Yes. my mom went to Mumbai just months ago. We have family friends living there. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of the victims and their families. Stay strong India! Read more about the blasts here. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/jul/13/mumbai-blasts

P.S: I will do a proper blog post tommorow about SM Town flash mob in Canada.

MBLAQ's Mona Lisa

Sorry for the late post. My internet got cut off. Yes, if you've been reading this blog for long, you know I've got bad internet karma. Nevertheless, I will still be watching Heartstrings. I am officially addicted. Anyhoo, this post isn't about Heartstrings but the lovely boys of MBLAQ. They are out with a new single. Check it out.

Delhi Belly and Disco Fever

My parents went to watch Delhi Belly yesterday. My mom thought it was good but nothing to rave about. I will be watching the movie next week. Super excited. I wanna make up my own mind about the movie. Today, I have 2 more songs from the movie. I hate you (like I love you) is already in my head. I think this movie has one of the best soundtracks in Bollywood.





How can anyone not love this song. "Shake that biscuit baby, Shake it for me" LOL :D

One more chance - Dana and Sunday (The Grace)

I was pleasantly surprised by this song. This is not the type of music SM makes. The music reminded me of American Pop so popular right now. Although, there were some instances where the song also reminded me of Kesha. Luckily they were very fleeting moments.

The girls look very beautiful and the song is already stuck in my head.

Ouran High School Host Club Live Action

Update: I am getting a lot of hits on this post and I am presuming that people are trying to search for an episode. I am posting links to each episode subbed in English in the blog. Just go check the labels for Japanese drama and it should be there.



Guess what? They are making a live action of Ouran High School Host Club. I was totally wrong in my previous post about J-drama. The following actors are confirmed as the leads. I find the cast perfect. This is such a great news as I was totally wanting to see a Japanese drama after a long time and I hope this will be funny and entertaining. What's more is that this will be my first drama with Yamamoto Yusuke as the lead.

Fujioka Haruhi: Kawaguchi Haruna

Source: phpmyanmarr.com

Suoh Tamaki: Yamamoto Yusuke

Source: generasia.com

Ohtori Kyoya: Daito Shunsuke

Source: coolcrammer.com

Hitachiin Hikaru: Takagi Shinpei

Source: video4asian.com

Hitachiin Kaoru: Takagi Manpei

Source: asianuniverse.net

 Haninozuka Mitsukuni: Chiba Yudai

Source: weheartit.com

Morinozuka Takashi: Nakamura Masaya

Source: serveimg.com

Nekozawa Umehito: Ryusei Ryo



Source: video.phpmyanmarr.com

Zindagi Na Milegi Doobara's 'Ik Junoon'

I was hoping to post some thing about this movie. The first promo of this movie didn't catch my eye despite having a great male cast. They are all eye candy. I was drooling at Hrithik with his shirt off. But, I really love this song. Although, the practical person in me winces every time I see this video. That's a huge waste of perfectly good tomatoes. I mean, can you imagine how much pasta sauce those tomatoes would make?

Hyuna's Bubble Pop

In my previous post I had mentioned how much I liked Hyuna's Rainy Days. Well, let's just say her new single is the opposite of that in the worst possible way. The song is called Bubble Pop and that is exactly what it is. I hate how they made Hyuna act all sexy but she comes off as wannabe. There is nothing natural and sexy about the video. Gosh, they need to stop mimicking American videos. I apologize in advance for including the offending video but I wanted you to see the evidence yourselves.





P.S: I am sorry for not posting regularly in the last few days but I work long hours and get really tired to post anything.

P.P.S: Also, Heartstrings is on Dramafever. Yes, I am watching it and liking it.

New Hana Kimi 2011 Trailer

I had posted that AKB48's Maeda Matsuko will be in the new remake of Hana Kimi. Well, here is the trailer.







Via: tokyohive.com

A Bitter Day by Hyuna and Co.

Hyuna's out with her new single except G.Na is the one singing. She raps and so does JunHyung. The song is pretty awesome. No video is released so enjoy the fanvid.

Heartstrings aka "You've fallen for me"

So, I was looking forward to this drama and it has aired in Korea. It looks so good. Since, it is fresh, I couldn't find English subs. But, I am adding a link to this amazing person's homepage. They have raw episodes out.  Also added a trailer of the drama.



I am also really liking the OST "See my eyes."

T-ara's Roly Poly vs. GD and TOP's Don't Go Home

Both music videos have the retro vibe going on. In terms of song, I prefer GD and TOP's Don't Go home. But in terms of music video, T-ara takes the cake. BTW, I do know GD and Top's music video is older but it is only now we can all see it. So, which song/music video do you like best.






P.S: I do like both groups. So, no hating and fan wars, okay!

P.P.S: I can totally see Simon and Martina reviewing both videos.

2ne1 "I am the Best" Music Video is finally revealed!

So, it is here. They gave CL Horns, all the girls lots of swagger (not that they were lacking any) and guns.

Hana Kimi Japanese Version 2.0

So, they are doing another live action of Hana Kimi in Japan. I don't really see the need to remake it but I guess there was a demand? I would've rather preferred that they had a done Japanese live action of Skip Beat or Ouran High school Host Club. AKB48's Maeda Atsuko will star in it. Don't know if she is a good actress but I do like few of their songs.



P.S: I had made a mistake earlier. I have corrected it. As a reader, please feel free to point out mistakes. Sometimes, I miss them.

2ne1's Inkigayo Comeback Stage

So, my favourite K-pop group performed their new single, "I am the best" on Inkigayo. As usual, they killed it in terms of performance. When I first heard the song, I wasn't too fond of it. I prefer the girls natural voice rather than the auto tune vocals. But the song really grew on me. The girls also achieved an all kill on music charts.



BTW, they always give Dara weird hairstyles. On the other hand, she's so pretty she can make a paper bag look stylish. Bom looks like a doll, Minzi looks fierce and Cl very sexy.

IIFA Green Carpet at Toronto (Some Thoughts)

OMG, I've never seen Toronto like this and we host a lot of celebrities here. I mean Bieber is Canadian and he was at the MMVAS. The Bollywood fans just went crazy. The Indian actresses are all stunningly gorgeous. Shahrukh Khan is such a humble pie. He's seriously sooo sweet to his fans. Arshad Warsi is just so funny and down to heart. Bipasha was a sweetheart and gave a shout out to Brampton. Zeenat is one classy lady. The Deols and Hema Malini are fun and love Canada. Arjun Rampal is one handsome dude. Sridevi is here. Soooooo many stars in Toronto. As an  Indo Canadian, I am extremely glad IIFA was held here. Go Bollywood ;D

I really need to digest all this craziness. I will comeback with a more thoughtful, reflective post tomorrow.

Shahrukh Khan at IIfA Buzz Party

Last night, my dad went to an IIFA party. It's main draw was that Shahrukh Khan and Vivek Oberoi would be there. My dad said he gets nervous while taking pictures and he cannot see that well. So, there were few pictures on the camera. He has a lot more pictures of Shahrukh Khan on his cellphone camera. I have to transfer them on computer and it will take some time because I am going to work today and tomorrow.

Shahrukh Khan (he's the one on stage)

If you click on the pictures, they become bigger and more clear. :O

That white speck in the front is Vivek Oberoi



IIFA Double Dhamaal Premiere in Brampton

First of all, I'd like to say Shahrukh Khan is here in Toronto for IIFA. Woohoo. My dad went to see the stars of Double Dhamaal at Silver City, Brampton. I did not go because I had other plans.  My Dad is not a very good photographer and therefore the pictures did not come out that great. I had pictures of close ups of the stars but were too blurry to post. Nevertheless, I was able to sift and find some decent pictures to share.

Jaaved Jaaferi

Kangana Ranaut



Malaika Sherawat

Anil Kapoor

Daesung's car accident Findings revealed!

So, it was Daesung who was the ultimate cause of the death of the victim. I don't know what else to say. I think this Seoulbeats article sums up my feelings about the whole incident.

IIFA Soundtrack Part 2

This soundtrack is for people who aren't familiar with Bollywood. It is a mix of South Asian diasporic sounds and old school Bollywood. Let's call it Hipster meets Bollywood.

I know picking Das Racist might sound odd but this song does have an Indian sound to it. The lyrics are satirical.

IIFA Soundtrack Part 1

Since, IIFA is coming here, I am sure there will be a lot of Bollywood/India/Southasia themed parties. I've decided to list some soundtracks. They are all themed and the first one is for hardcore IIFA fan. I am calling this the IIFA Nuts Party. The songs are from nominated movies in Best movie, Best Director and Best Actress categories.
















Enjoy and yes, I do love Band Baaja Baraat. It has the best soundtrack.

Is Hallyu wave in Europe being overstated?

 I felt really glad that so many European fans got to go to SM town concert in Paris. But, the news in Korea seems abuzz that K-pop is the next big thing in Europe. I don't think that's the case yet. I do think k-pop's still got a long way to go before it becomes successful in the West. The truth is that most people in Canada have never heard of K-pop. Most of my friends aren't interested in K-pop; Believe me, I've tried enticing them but they just don't care. For some the language barrier is too big and sadly others find the music too bubblegum for their taste. I've got relatives in Germany and my brother's got friends there. The girls who are young listen to American music and bands like Paramore. They don't seem interested in K-pop stuff. I do think they need to market K-pop to fans of Manga. They are a lot of young girls who are fans of mangas/manhwas and would see a live action. They are open minded and listen to J-pop. K-pop would naturally fit their tastes. So, K-pop still gotta try harder!

Source: asianpopcorn.com

Why I like Amber and other strong female idols!

Amber



Source: asianpopcorn.com

There's a lot of buzz on the Internet over whether Amber from f(x) is a lesbian. I am not a fan of  f(x) but I do like Amber. I think she's one of the most talented members of that group and she doesn't fit into the traditional mold of cute K-pop idol. Of course, this doesn't mean Amber isn't cute or beautiful but she's not cookie cutter cute like Yoona. In fact, I personally do gravitate toward K-pop idols who are immensely talented but have a strong image.

When 2ne1 debuted, I was immediately drawn to CL. I was also impressed by Minzy. It was only after 2ne1 TV that I warmed up to Bom and Dara.

Source: colegioexcelsior.com

 Same goes with Narsha from Brown Eyed Girls. She had such a strong presence in her videos and stage performances, I was drawn to her. K-pop universe is filled with beautiful idols. Some of them are talented and successful and some are successful *cough* Kara *cough* but do not have the strongest vocals. Maybe it is my Western bias but I do tend to gravitate toward personalities that are strong and individualistic. I'd rather watch some one interesting and thought provoking than cute and bland. So, go ahead and bring out the personalities ladies.

On a completely different note, if S.M. entertainment decides to do a Korean version of Hana Kimi, I want Amber to be Ashiya Mizuki.