Hemang's Interests

Sacred Games - Vikram Chandra: In about 900 pages, Vikram Chandra packs in information about India, and Mumbai in particular. Its a novel relating a police investigation about an underworld don to a much larger nation threatening conspiracy. Wonderfully narrated (too detailed, at times), this a god book tp pick up. Reasons: amazing intertwining of plots, Mumbai explored, and underworld functioning.
Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy - Jenny Nimmo: Harry Potterish. ok read
Ultramarathon Man - Dean Karnazes: What a man, and what a book! This guy runs ultramarathons, which are races longer than 26 miles. His feats have included 100 miles, 200 miles, 226 miles and so on non-stop. The book talks about his motivations, his journey, and his triumphs and failures. Must read!
Mossad - Uri Dan: What an agency is Mossad! This book has packed in stories about this Israeli secret service agency, which can put any mystery novel to shame. Each of the stories are real and very surprising. Eg: One of the stories is about a Mossad spy sent to Syria who nearly ends up being the Syrian Minister of Defense. How he (and others) did their duty is what this book is about. Read it!
Ariel Sharon - Uri Dan: When I picked this book up, I had little idea about how great a man Ariel Sharon was. I knew that he was the Prime Minister of Israel and had seen his photos but what I did not know was his influence on shaping up Israel. He went through a lot of political battles, wars and other times of crisis for his country. Uri Dan has chronicled this biography in the form of letters. Read it if you like history and biographies.
State of Fear; Michael Crichton A typical Michael Crichton book where a wonderful technology is exploited for somet horrible cause, and how the world is rescued by a few good people. I enjoy his books as they are fast paced, and you don't have to "think" too much. Its a good read.
Freedom in Exile; The Dalai Lama: The Dalai Lama's autobiography detailing how he grew to be a nation's leader and hope in his youth. I enjoyed th book because it gave me an insight into how Buddhism is practiced in Tibet, and their rituals and beliefs. A very engrossing part of the book is the political situation in Tibet.
Half a Life; V.S. Naipaul: The story is about people who live their lives just following the road without any goal or destination. It shows the reader the caste-system of India, the sexual freedom in Africa, and money-minded people in poor countries. At times, honestly, I felt the book was dragging on.
Who's Looking Out For You? Bill O'Reilly: It's an eyeopener book tackling on various issues Americans face including politics, minority issues, music, education, pubic schooling, the Iraq war, mass media and how it continues to selectivley highlight stories and personal battles. Nice read and leaves you with a lot of moral understanding :)
A Suitable Boy, Vikram Seth: just finished. Set in the 1950s, it is an amazing book, which takes one on a ride through India, aranged marriage, anglophiles, politics, poets, courtesans, religion, and caste system while looking for a suitable boy for Ms. Lata Mehra, the lead character. As a reviewer put it, you want the story to continue much beyond what is covered in 1400 pages. Get your hands on it!
The Art of Happiness at Work: The Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler.
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, David Egggers: interesting initially but loses steam as you move on. Maybe that's why it was a Pulitzer finalist
The Namesake: Jhumpa Lahiri: very well written. Its about an Indian woman trying to settle in the USA. Talks about the way she adjusts her lifestyle, her kids who are very American, yet Indian (ABCDs). Any immigrant, foreign national can relate really well to this book. Read it!
Broken Music: A Memoir by Sting: i found this ok
Atlas Shrugged: Ayn Rand: I like this one. It may be a bit lengthy, I had to struggle in a few places but it's worth it.
The Power of Simplicity: Jack Trout: A simple book on simplicity in the business domain. Can't beat it! Get your hands on it before it's gone.

Music
Of late, I have been listening to asian underground music, which is a fusion of mainly south-asian and western sounds. Some of my favorite groups/artists are: MidiVal Punditz, Karsh Kale, DJ Cheb i Sabbah. This music can be best sampled at EthnoTechno.com

Sports
I used to be an avid tennis and volleyball player before I came to the USA. Since 2002, I am really regular at squash. Drexel has a squash ladder. Sign up on it, and we can play a duel.

Movies
This is one irresistible interest. Mainly, my eyes feast on Hindi movies (with brains closed) and Hollywood flicks (at times, I bring in intelligence). The recent movies I watched:

Bheja Fry: Must, must watch. Absolutely hilarious with wonderful acting.
Shattered Glass: A good story about a non-fiction reporters rise to fame, and how he was caught. Great acting by everyone.
Good Night and Good Luck: I liked this movie. Its about how a CBS team busts a powerful senator using the TV medium in a time when the news reporters were not as free to telecast what they wanted.
Apna Sapna Money Money: If you like Indian slapstick comedy, this one is for you. There are lots of flaws but to appreciate this movie, you have to shut down your logical side of the brain.
Casino Royale: Just like Dhoom 2, something happens and the Bond rescues everyone. The Bond can be reckless, can dodge a million bullets but he will kill the evil, win money, and find love with ease. Give it a miss.
Khosla Ka Ghosla (Hindi): We need more movies like these. Such a wonderful, light-hearted and logical movie with good performances in all areas. A must-watch.
Dhoom 2(Hindi): Horrible, shappy and pathetic. The only good part is the glamour quotient, and if you remove it the film is nothing. the film boasted of an awesome starcast, and "death-defying" stunts but the storyline lets things down. Still this movie is bound to be one of the biggest hits of Bollywood, mainly due to the hype.
Garam Hawa (Hindi): The partition of India and Pakistan; a time of great turmoil and violence. Many films focus on the violence and physical hardship Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs faced. This movie tells the story of a Muslim family, who has decided to live in India, and the emotional turmoil they face. Truly, it was a horrible period laced with violence, religious partiality, and betrayers.Awesome acting by Balraj Sahni, it is one great film. Also, it's songless, which keeps the flow of the movie. Watch it!
The Last Temptation of Christ: Confusing but brilliant. Of course, its very controversial, and like, I guess, all Scorses movies, this is long. I need it to watch once more to understand it completely :)
Raging Bull: Robert de Niro is a guru in acting, and Scorsese is another in making biopics. Awesome film on this unpredictable boxer, it shows you his stubborn ride to the top and then to the bottom.
Ramayana, the animated version: I love animated flicks, and this one is simply too good. Great graphics, convincing characterization, and awesome editing and screenplay. How else can you fit one of the biggest Indian mythologies in a two hour film?
Siddartha by Herman Hesse: I am not a big fan of abstract art. Give me definition, a story, and I will follow. Leave me to interpret things, and I will leave you. A decent film starring Shashi Kapoor and Simi Garewal made on the bestseller book by the same name, it also has one of the funniest bedroom scenes. Couldn't help but laugh when I saw it! :)
The Devil's Own: Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford are two good actors, who get really well into the skin of their characters. Its about this IRA member who takes refuge inside an American Police officer's home, while he works on his mission in USA. Obviously, something has to go wrong to tell the story. It does, and there's some fighting that follows. This film is not exceptional but nevertheless, a decent flick.
A Midnight Summer's Sex Commedy (Hollywood): A hilarious film by Woody Allen. Revolves around three couples who spend a summer weekend to celebrate the marriage of one of them. Turns out, everything happens but the bride and groom saying "I do". Awesome acting, plenty of laughs. Watch it!
Thelma & Louise (Hollywood): A Ridley Scott film, so you have the generous doses of action. I didn't like it too much as it seemed too much like an older "chick" flick. But if you like westerns, this might please you.
The Road (Argentinean): Interesting film about a young man trying to meet his father for the first time. Takes you thorugh southern Argentina, which is not as urban as Buenos Aires. You might find this a bit slow but don't write it off.
Chocolate (Hindi): A copy of the Usual Suspects. Very poorly narrated, leaves you confused at many places. Watch it only if its for free.
Nazar (Hindi): I thought this would be nothing more than a skin flick. Surprisingly, its a nice movie. A good plot, and a good surprise in the end; just what you expect from a suspense film.
Chicos Ricos (Argentinean): Horrible. terrible. Don't have enough words for it. Chuck it!