Sarvam - Review

Why you might want to watch it:

• Vishnuvardhan returns after the stupendous success of Billa with his dream technical team and favourite hero  
  
• Arya's back after the offbeat Naan Kadavul  minus the long hair (Thankfully for all his female fans)

The Good: Arya, Visuals, Art, Styling & Production Values 

The Bad: Plot, Songs (Except for One!)  

Look out for: JD Chakravarthy (as Eashwar), the same guy who played the lead role in RGV's Sathya. 

Bottomline: Usually when you decide to watch a film you have a fair idea about the genre; you know you are going to watch a mindless entertainer or a romantic film. Sarvam was a bit different for me. The initial buzz suggested romantic film with the perfect lead pair (Arya and Trisha) and then when I saw the trailers I figured the film had a dark side too. The film starts as a refreshingly fresh love story - Arya is Karthik, a successful architect and Trisha plays Sandhya a paediatrician. Arya has never looked so good on screen and Trisha looks better than she has in a long time. The visuals and styling provide the perfect backdrop for their romance. A parallel narrative explores the friction between a bitter football coach Eashwar (JD) and Naushad (Indrajith) a techie. Fate intervenes and all their lives collide and the film changes colour from a candyfloss romance to a cat and mouse game. Its probably here that the film loses its way. Sarvam is probably Vishnu Vardhan's weakest plot and his least engaging film. It is still a plot that is off the beaten track without the usual 'filmi' elements but that alone does not make it watchable. The film is rescued by some great Camera Work (Nirav Shah), Art (Manu Jagadh) and Styling but Yuvan's songs (Except for one terrific duet) are a major letdown. Sarvam has more than its share of 'moments' but is not up to the high standards Vishnu Vardhan has set.    

Running Time: 145 mins (Approx)

SPB Mobile Shell 3.0 - Review

Name: SPB Mobile 3.0
Version: 3.0
Developer: SPB Software House
Cost: USD 29.95 
Compatibility: Windows Mobile 5, 6 and 6.1

Summary: SPB Mobile 3.0 is the all-new version of SPB Mobile Shell, one the most popular third party Windows Mobile Interfaces. Windows Mobile users are constantly seeking applications to enhance their Mobile experience and Mobile Shell 3.0 promises an all-new user interface. 

Features: 

• Cool Widgets to customise your home screen including a calendar with a two-week agenda view
• Widget-based Photo contacts with Facebook integration and a 3D Contact Carousel for favourite Contacts
• Fast access shortcuts and Integrated Tools 
• Menu customisation with the ability to make your own homescreen 

My Quicktake: Being a Winmo addict for over four years, I have experienced the progression of SPB Mobile Shell. The earlier versions were a huge relief from the plain vanilla Windows Mobile Interfaces of the time. The last one year has been a terrific year for Win Mo slaves seeking new user interfaces - Whether it was the Omnia Widgets or the Touch Flo 3D they have all made Windows Mobile a lot more sexier. For me SPB Mobile Shell 3.0 walks into this elite list of user interfaces with a host of fun and brilliant looking features. SPB Mobile 3.0 looks terrific, is very functional and most importantly is full of customisation options which will probably keep you engaged for a long time after you install this app. I particularly liked the 3D Contacts Carousel feature and the home screen customisation options. You can further customise this application with a host of external tweaks that have started making their appearance in the Winmo World. Whether you have used Touch Flo 3D or the earlier versions of Mobile Shell, there are enough fun and new elements in version 3.0 to make it worth your while.