Sorry?: The most pathetic way to start a review, I agree. But, that is to all my friends who missed/will miss this list, due to Faisal’s restrictions! As it is, I have taken the liberty to enlarge the 5 to a dozen! These are people who I know, and with whom I have shared a fantastic rapport, which gives me the license to spill, and, spew, at times treading dangerously close to the edge. So here goes!
Dancing with Tribals: The GB Shaw of MS, the ’Frenchie’ is an ace, among the old timers and a Star! When he does it with Mal Sherawat, Amul picks up the bill! (Freshers, check rev on Amul Kool, for more!). A personal fave, when it comes to picking a mate to gorge with. Excuse his short comments, he has to write a hundred a day, seriously!
Confused Evereddy: ’Yeh Haat Mujhe De De Thakur’ could well have been his line, but for the fact that he aint no Thakur actually. Revs range from ’Busting Boss’ to ’Adventure at Fishing Village’. Settled in Mallya-land to aid better ’liquid’ity, Hic! is a way of life with this s/w man! But of late, All Hic and No revs has made this Reddy a tad invisible.
3. Lamp Post CEO: Why lamp post, did you ask? Duhh, because they throw light best! A penchant for loong drawn out sentences, veg food, non veg talk and Tirupati Balaji - that is the CEO for you, living on Star Avenue. When not lampposting at the end of every comment he makes, he hires, fires, grins and screams - all while selling bio-med jing-bang! And yes, he has Mercy writ all over his name! Thank God for small ones!
Hugs For You: Florence Nightingale of MS, she once called herself a granny..just ’cos she had crossed 50 (revs)! Love, love, love. So much of it spilling all over her profile, reviews and comments, that she is running out of it in real life. Confesses to love of chocolates, books and men most, among others. Hosts tours of the Capital, in exchange for just free lunches (never mind the weight!) - ’Whats it for you, Grass for me, puhlease!’ is the standard A La Carte order! And, the icing, she will write a review on your day out too! That’s free. She also works during the day, like Tatas ’also make steel’! Prone to traces of spirituality and Baba-ism, at times, much to the chagrin of certain other non-believers! A neo-star, she tends to assert it at every opportunity, largely because she still is coming to terms with the ’elevation’!
Saint MangoMan: One smile per review is his motto, but he will only show you a tricolour in place of half his head, on profile. Mallu in Bangalore, he makes up for his retarded Hindi by shooting from the lip, when it comes to rattling out oldest of Hindi numbers. His reviews are like Good Governance - hard to come by, and take a long time coming.! But when they do, they HIT - the heart, mind and all around the belt! Mr. Goodman, with a funny bone hidden beneath that serious mask and a free telephone on his desk! A true Christian, with occasional spurts of Baba-ism as well!
Peace The Review, Err: She loves to play ’Didi’ around, but don’t get the scary nick wrong! Dance, sing, travel, drive, work, play, kids - she’s got them all. Simple and witty, stark reality stands out in her reviews. Not an old timer, neither a star. But she is fast rising up the popularity charts, thanx to regular RRCing on ’eligible’ reviews! She drives to work, and says her office is 20 km from her home, "if the traffic is good"..! Now, no Honda City can change this driver!
Sin, Smile and Gorge: Expects to grow thinner by eating out (read ’Downloading terrabytes of food’), chocolates and writing reviews. If the review has ’Mah yunk’ in place of commas, peace be with you, you have arrived there! Tread in only with full stomachs, else you’ll regret. She can sell an umbrella with holes to a sales rep in Chirapunji! Humour galore, graphic detail (yes!) and a penchant for the English language, this Ab(l)e Amateur is a Star now, and omnipresent too!
Hollywood Calling: Name a film, he will tell you the stars, director, collection, and rating. Name a Football Club, this Star will rattle out last 5 years’ performances. Has a movie a day, for dinner, and lives among stiff upper lips! No wonder he is Peaced Out! Not too much into humour though, his reviews are matter-of-fact, thorough and precise. Almost a sure shot victor, if you count the number of 1st comments to his credit, in any section!
Surgeon of Funny Bones: Dr Jaipuri, the hottest doc in MS-town. A dual MS, humour king and avid ’Cow Hugger’ at both ends- that is how his CV would start. Trust the doc to extract brilliant topics out of the surgeon’s cap, squeeze it dry, marinate with wit, BBQ it and serve it piping hot. Everyone leaves his space with a smile and aching sides. After all, the famous last words of a doctor "An apple a day keeps the doctor away, if you aim it right" are his!
Shared Spot: This place is shared by three (Trust me to take 12, when Faisal gives just 5 spots!), so it is a dozen, not 5!
(a) Ms. Corporate Swimmer, she writes from the heart, not the hand. From true life experiences, she weaves magical-sounding but absolutely possible stories, hitting hard. Topics vary from mallu movies to Child labour to Sandalwood soaps and nostalgia! Definitely a gem to have on your Trusted Circle, wish I knew her earlier.
(b) Athens Ka Dakoo: Now I know why he says ’Its...’ when he isnt actually that! You know what this guy did at a perfume store at Athens once? You don’t? Well, let it stay that way! He told me he isn’t yet married, so not to disclose it! But he has become talk of the town with his recent review in 2 parts, making sure he covered 100 names, ensuring a permanent seat shortly for him in the HoF!
(c) Mrs Etiquette and Lady Byron: With her, trust not just summers, but winters and rains too to turn magical. Waves an English wand better than the Queen herself! She is here, and not at the top, only ’cos she isn’t really writing much these days. But, if you haven’t read her, you still haven’t made your debut on MS, folks. Try out "Gifts for Mothers" for starters! No nonsense, but definitely game for gender based tugs of war, when she isn’t teaching The High & Mighty how to behave, and getting paid for it!
Bhaiyon aur Unke Behnon, you are among a set of wonderfully talented people, any way you look at it. And, it is free! So, rather than crib, make the best out of Mouthshut, and make some great friends too, in the bargain!
Here’s 3 Cheers to seeing Mouthshut higher, stronger and bigger!
Please throw all your anger, delight and towels out in the comments section! I love washing linen in public, provided they are not dirty, and someone else does the washing!
PS: I left out my great pal NV, a master at any topic he choses to write on. The dude has even done his video review, in shtyle, with cap shap and all, talking about Guruji’s album! NV, sorry for the late addition, and the bad faux pas...Now, if Mags doesnt come by in the next 24 hours, she trades places with you!!:)
Folks I would put in here, had I known them longer: Rohit, Ambuj, Sanjoy, Orknob, Manu to name a few.