Finally got around to watching Ang Lee’s Shanghai-based period film Lust, Caution, and who  should appear – close to the end of the film –  as the protagonist cautiously enters Chandni Chowk Jewellers, but hamara Anupam Kher, seated behind a desk, as the jeweller/owner Mr. Said Khalid Uddin.

It’s a small role, he only appears in two scenes, but he carries himself in  the same low key and air of mystery as the rest of the cast.

Good news, filmi fans:   Hindi movies have returned to the Columbia Park Stadium 12 cinema in North Bergen.

One year ago ejackly  I was lamenting the former Cineplaza cinema’s  disappearance as one by-product of an enthusiastic real estate move.   But oh, how the murukku crumbles……

The very same cinema has returned to the Bollywood fold  as a member  of the Reliance/Adlabs Big cinemas national chain that have been opening in a very chori-chori-chupke-chupke way around the U.S., first on the West Coast, now, months later, here in the East, with minimal fanfare.   (Ok, who am I kidding?   “Under the cloak of darkness” would be more like it!)

At the moment,  on those huge screens with stadium seating, the Columbia  Park 12 is showing Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, Love Story 2050, and Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na.   Tickets are $10.   The usual Indian snacks corner has yet to return to operation, but some desi snacks were available at the main soda and popcorn counter (along with $1 hotdogs which  a very enthu young man tried to convince me to try).   On a Sunday evening visit, the ladies room was immaculate (something the other NJ Reliance/Adlabs cinema over in Edison will need to work on, a lot).

Musing on a connection between the Spanish guitarist

Paco de Lucia

…and the Indian director

Sudhir Mishra