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What does winter melt hold this time round?




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Twin-monsoon failures of 2012 have left plantation sector numb




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Wet summer thus far in North, Northwest India




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Will it be a normal monsoon this time?




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All's well in equatorial Pacific?

US and Australian lead forecasters believe they are able to see beyond the 'spring barrier' to conclude that the equatorial Pacific will stay 'neutral'during the Northern Hemisphere summer 2013.




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Late-winter snowstorm in Northwest Europe

The Arctic cold wave has made a late-winter dip towards far south of the normal to trigger the latest snowstorm across Northwest Europe, which is on a roll even as one is about to post this blog . This is akin to early-February freaky weather brought about by southward-dipping western disturbances (which are eastward-perturbations of the cold waves striking Northwest and South Europe)over Central and adjoining Peninsular India.




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Ebbs and flows in 'atmospheric rivers' and their impact

So when they swing up, these waves suck warm air from the tropics to Europe, Russia, or the US, and when they swing down, they do the same thing with cold air from the Arctic.




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Monsoon ball has been set rolling!

Expectations of a normal southwest monsoon for India are gaining ground




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Storm building in the Bay of Bengal?

Most forecasting agencies indicate the possibility of a storm building in the Southwest Bay of Bengal, just ahead of the onset of Southwest monsoon in these parts. What it holds for onset dynamics over mainland India has crucial signifcance for onward progress of seasonal rains.




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Wagah: A misfire on many levels

Vast stretches of 'Wagah' play out like a dubbed movie.




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Rustom: Too smug for comfort

There’s nationalist fervour and jingoism running right through this cinematic interpretation of the scandalous Nanavati murder case that rocked the nation in the 1950s.




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Babu Bangaram: Where are the laughs?

This nostalgic trip is far from fun to declare that ‘Bobbili Raja’ is back




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Mohenjo Daro: Tries the audience’s patience

The very straight, simple and oft-repeated tale of foster parents, mistaken identity, good vs evil is just another fantasy, a mishmash of many such larger than life epics.




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Joker: Presidency towers




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Kotigobba 2 review: A self-indulgent star vehicle




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Mudinja Ivana Pudi: Mixed doubles

The film tries to subvert the classic evil-twin template.




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Ben Hur: Chariots of boredom

Even the cinematic feat of evoking pathos cannot make up for Ben-Hur’s failure to resonate with its viewer.




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Happy Bhag Jayegi: It’s all about loving your neighbour

A petulant lead character aside, the film is a fun comedy with genuine laugh out aloud moments




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Aatadukundam Raa: The joke is on the audience

A clichéd story that relies heavily on a film family’s lineage




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Dharmadurai: terrific story that loses its way

Dharmadurai leaves us dry-eyed, despite much potential for drama.




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Chuttalabbayi: A lost opportunity

A masala overdose limits Chuttalabbayi’s ability to entertain




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Pete’s Dragon: a winsome Disney adventure




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War Dogs review: Guns and posers

Jonah Hill, who reportedly has put on more weight for this part, is a riot each time he’s raging, which is almost through the whole film.




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Pinneyum review: Disappointing fare from an old master




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Waarrior Savitri: Boring skin and sex show

A modern-day adaptation of Savitri and Satyavan pitted against Yamraj is a snoozefest




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Missing on a Weekend: Who cares whodunit

A murder mystery with zero thrills




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Mechanic: Resurrection – A standard Statham affair




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54321: The numbers game

Wanting to show off isn’t necessarily bad. But the problem with 54321 is that this bravura isn’t matched by the writing.




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'Happy Birthday' review: An excuse for a launch

The narrative takes many breaks along the way to accommodate cringe-worthy comedy sequences that comprise characters trying to grope women and sleep with them forcibly.




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Veil spotting




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Janatha Garage: This needs a few repairs

NTR and Mohanlal’s performances save an otherwise tepid film




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Island City: Loneliness, love and longing

Three stories compellingly underline the theme of freedom from oppression in Island City.




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Don't Breathe: when prey turns predator

A chilling, thrilling twist on the home invasion genre leaves you rooting for the bad guys.




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Kidaari: new genre of 'Aruvaa Christie'?

It’s not a good sign when the story seems less interested in suspense than in sickles whooshing down every few minutes.




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Akira: breaks bones, but not stereotypes

'Akira' is yet another film in which being a strong woman essentially means having to suffer and sacrifice




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Sunshine Music Tours and Travels review: An excuse for brand promotion

Forget memorable, the passengers are so irritating that one would rather hop off the film and abort the trip




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Skiptrace: Gangs of Hong Kong




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'Kutrame Thandanai' review: thoughtfully made, but something’s missing




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Sunshine Music Tours and Travels: Ain’t no sunshine at all

A film about a motley crew on a road trip is actually an overt promotion for an EDM fest




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Neer Dose: Serving up a heavy dose of misogyny




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Inkokkadu: Beyond the sheen

There’s a lot to ‘Love’ but eventually, the film falls flat




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Iru Mugan: science of the times

Vikram, a cold-hearted secret agent, a widower, is the only one who can save the universe.




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Wish You happy BreakUp: Writing carries the day

A Youtube video before suicide changes a man’s life




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Baar Baar Dekho: stuck in a time warp

Passionless performances and cardboard characters mark this much awaited directorial debut by Nitya Mehra




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Sully: Captain America




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Oozham: Nothing new in this revenge




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Oppam: When narrative fails a meaty role




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The Devi(l) wears pavadai

'Devi' is A.L. Vijay’s way of saying he can do pei-sa vasool entertainers too.




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Remo: Heroine worship

‘Remo’ is less about convincing us that a man can become a woman than reminding us Sivakarthikeyan has become a star.




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Rekka: Men are from mass

With ‘Rekka’, ‘Makkal Selvan’ Vijay Sethupathi makes this trip to aruval land. But has he arrived?