My ‘Mystery Blogger’ Award

A couple of months ago, today (on the 16th of February, 2017), I was nominated for the Mystery Blogger Award, by Charlene of charsmoviereviews; but I never got to work on it, until now. So first of all, let me Thank you, Charlene, for nominating me for this mysterious award 😉 ; and let me also apologise for the delay. Sorry!!
This award was created by Okoto Enigma.

So here are the rules:-

– Put the award logo/image above. Done
– List the rules. Done
– Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their Blog. Done
– Mention the creator of the award and provide the creator’s link as well. Done
– Tell your readers 3 things about yourself
– Nominate 10 to 20 people & notify your nominees by commenting on their Blog
– Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question (specify)
– Share a link to your best post(s)

Fellow Film Buffs: Gingerella (in front) in a playful stance; whilst Nudin (in the back) looks on

Three3 Things about myself :-

1. My two Dogs (Gingerella & Nudin Sen), are the best thing that happened to my life; and the only good thing in this Dog forsaken country, that I happen to live in.

2. I detest the country I live in (although I hate hating), the country of my unfortunate roots (not my birth, thankfully); and I have 41 years of depressing experiences of reasons for it (I am not going to tell you my whole life story now, am I 😛 ).

3. Being an untouched loner, I long to have a good partner; with a good, kind, heart, and intellect; someday (sooner the better). ❤

Done

Nominees :-
Any fellow blogger that even glances at this post for even a second, consider yourself nominated. But don’t feel obligated. Accept it, If you like, and continue this chain of Blog awards. If you don’t enjoy it, you don’t have to. Rules are meant to be broken, and am bending them a little here, for the sake of my dear bloggers. You are all NOMINATED!!!!!
Done
Here are the Questions that ‘I’ have to answer:-

Q.1 What is one place on Earth you would like to visit but have not yet had the chance?
A.1 Niagara Falls

Q.2 What is your favourite Academy Award Best Picture winner?
A.2 Gone with the Wind (1939)

Q.3 What is one hairstyle you would like to try?
A.3 That’s hard to say, I’ve practically done everything I liked, from Billy Idol/Grease look/Elvis blend -minus the gel (teens n’ 20’s), to floppy long locks with Beatle Bangs/Parveen Babi Bangs (30’s; as you can see on my Gravatar image); the Mohawk/Mr. T look doesn’t really interest me (It’s just not me). So I really don’t know!!!! 😦 What else is there left to try?? Now, I’ve re-cut it really short.

Q.4 What is one project or new hobby you would like to start?
A.4 Something in the Arts field; but again, I’ve tried a lot of stuff, I don’t know. What’s new??

Q.5 What is your favourite song?
A.5 Imagine by John Lennon

Done
AND Here are my Questions that ‘YOU’, my fellow bloggers reading this post, have to answer (Enjoy):-

Q.1 What’s your favourite film adaptation of a novel you have read?
Q.2 What’s your favourite film adaptation of a novel you have not read?
Q.3 Who is your favourite film character? And Why?
Q.4 If you could go back into the 20th century, which classic celebrity, who died last century, would you like to meet?
Q.5 Who is/are the actor(s)/actress(es) of today, still in their early 20’s, you would like to get naked with, in real life? (Crazy/Weird/Naughty Question) 😀

Link to your best posts (that’s a hard one, so here are some of my personal favourites; 2 from each year) :-

PAST POSTS

Year 2012
Bookish Nuwan (More of a TWEET, than a Blog Post, my very 1st official write-up)
Prater Violet

Year 2013
Édith Piaf: 50th Death Anniversary
Sissi : 115th Death Anniversary of Empress Elisabeth of Austria

Year 2014
THE BILLY WILDER BLOGATHON: Love in the Afternoon
The Essential 60’s Blogathon : Dr Strangelove, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Year 2015
Classic Movie History Project Blogathon – 1966: The Year dubbed as Nineteen Sexty Sex
Classic Cinematographers: Jack Cardiff

Year 2016
Love Wins – 1 YEAR!!
Shakespeare: Intellectual Minds and Beyond!!

POST OF 2017, so far

Year 2017
90 Years of Sidney Poitier Blogathon: To Sidney, with Love
Mardi-Gras, Movies-Gay

That’s it folks!
Enjoy
Nuwan Sen
Nuwan Sen’s Film Sense (NSFS)
#‎NuwanSensFilmSense

Sunshine Blogger Award (One Year Later)

Last year, in October 2015, fellow blogger, Akhiz Munawar, nominated me for The Sunshine Blogger Award. I somehow never got to accept the said nomination, and do a post for it. Procrastinating, so far as my Blog is concerned, in general, due to various reasons (added to which haven’t really been feeling full of sunshine lately, in a country clouded with negativity). None the less, since this Blog award, wasn’t “Year” specific, I decided, it’s never too late. Thus, here is my post, accepting, and thanking, my Blog-pal, to FB-pal, and hopefully future real life pals, Akhiz Munawar, for nominating, me, rather “No Nonsense with Nuwan Sen”, for, The Sunshine Award!!

This is my second The Sunshine Award (with a different Logo though). In fact, back in December 2013, this was the very First Award nomination my Blog received.

So Here are The Rules :-

– Thank the person who nominated you. Done!!
– Answer the questions from the person who has nominated you.
– Nominate some other bloggers for this award.
– Write the same amount of questions for the bloggers you have nominated.
– Notify the bloggers you have nominated.

The Questions :-

Q1. Who is your favourite historical personality, your favourite saying by them?
A1. There are so many, hard to choose just one!! From great philosophers like Confucius and Socrates, from the ancient era, to great humanitarians like John Lennon and Princess Diana, from towards the end of the last century; there are many. But if I have to select one, I think I’ll go for Mother Teresa.
Quote of Mother Teresa!! Well, this is something I actually heard, when I was still in school, back in 1980’s. Apparently she had been speaking to, the then American President, Ronald Regan, at The White House, and I remember verbatim, the words she was supposed to have uttered to him, when he had asked about poverty in India; “India might have a lot of poverty, but America has spiritual poverty”!!!

Q2. Hope, Faith or Love? If you are given a choice to choose only one that will stay with you for the rest of your life which will you choose?
A2. LOVE!!! … as in a Lover; ‘cause that is something missing in my LIFE!!

Q3. What’s the biggest problem of your country and what’s the sure shot and effective/fastest way to solve it?
A3. Extremist, narrow-minded, Hitler mentality.
Literally cut open their heads and pour some sense into them (I highly doubt that would have much of an impact either, but that’s last remaining option 😦 )

Q4. Your all-time Favourite Movie and Song?
A4. Roman Holiday (1953).
Imagine by John Lennon

Q5. When you are angry how do you express it?
A5. Silent treatment!!! Unless I’ve lost patience, then it’s BOOM (vocally that is 😀 ).

Q6. Is John Snow Dead?
A6. Who??? Ha!! Don’t know, don’t care!! I haven’t watched Game of Thrones, but am aware of this fictional character from the show!!
Done!!

The Nominees are :-
Now here I shall bend the rules a little (Rules are meant to be broken after all)!! I know how many Bloggers dislike being nominated, as it feels a hassle to continue this chain of Blog Awards. Thus, I nominate all my fellow bloggers. If you, like or comment, on this post, consider you’ve accepted the nomination. Plus, the questions, are the same as above, except for Question number 6!! This is my Q6, for you all!! What’s you favourite Television series, from within the last five years? And Why?    
Done!!

Thanks again, Akhiz!!! ONE Year Late, but – Better Late Than Never!!
Cheers
Nuwan Sen

Triple Nomination: Yet another Trio of Blog Awards

Three more nominations (June 2015)
I’ve been nominated yet again, within this month itself, for three Blog Awards; again!!! This time by one Blogger, Akhiz Munawar. An interesting, deeply thoughtful, Blog, of poetry & prose. Literature buffs would love it, especially if you are into poetry.

The Versatile Blogger Award

Real Neat Blog Award

 – and –

Beautiful Bloggers Award

Thank you Akhiz Munawar for complimenting my Blog(& me), with a triple nomination.

This is my 2nd Versatile Blogger Award (different logo though) and Beautiful Bloggers Award (which I nominated Akhiz for, 10 days ago, and now he’s re-nominated me for it). And my 1st Real Neat Blog Award.

So here are the instructions (as most of you, my blog-pals, are already aware of)

*Thank the person who nominated me, and add the pictures of the awards above. (DONE)

*Answer the 7 questions prepared by Akhiz Munawar, for me.

Q°1. What’s your Favourite Genre of Music ?
A°1.  All sorts. From Classical (Piano, Sitar, Violin, Flute et al), to Pop, Rock, Country, Jazz, Disco, to New-age, to Fusion, Opera even (Opera not to the extent of others, as I wouldn’t really sit in relaxation listening to it, but I do enjoy watching an Opera on stage, the performance along with the Operatic music; or even in film, with an Operatic background score). Am generally not a fan of Rap and Hip Hop (there are few exceptions of course).

Q°2. Name of your Favourite author, your favourite book?
A°2. Within the last five years, I’ve been in love with Christopher Isherwood novels (am reading one at the moment). But it use to be Agatha Christie for a long time. My all time favourite novel happens to be, City of Joy by Dominique Lapierre (English Language version), which I read 20 years ago. And that’s the only published work of Dominique Lapierre I’ve read till date.

Q°3. What’s your favourite TV show ?
A°3. Currently nothing specific, but from more recently, within the first five months of Year 2015 (January to May), I’d say, Downton Abbey (2010 – 2015) & The Newsroom (2012 – 2014).

Q°4. What advice would you like to give yourself if you get a chance to travel; 10 years back in time?
A°4. Am drawing a Blank!!! Can’t think of anything that I haven’t already tried, and failed (unfortunately), that could make my life any better today.

Q°5. Again if you are given a time machine to see and visit the wonders of these civilization at their prime where will you go?
a. The Egyptian Civilization
b. The Mayan Civilization
c. The Mohenjodaro (Indus valley) Civilization
d. The Middle Ages (Europe and central Asia)
e. The Mughal Empire
f. Jurassic Period
A°5. Oh! I’d love to visit them all, but I’d most probably change the order, to my preference, beginning with….
(i) The Egyptian Civilization
(ii) The Middle Ages (Europe & Central Asia)
(iii) The Mughal Empire
(iv) The Mayan Civilization
(v) The Mohenjo-Daro (Indus valley) Civilization
……………..and, last but not the least,
(vi) Jurassic Period, or ‘Jurassic Park’ will do!!!

Q°6. Your Favourite Quote?
A°6. I have so many, but since my blog is primarily a Film Blog, I’ll go with a section (last line) of the famed cinematic quote, by my all time favourite Film Director, that I used, atop my introduction, for my final dissertation, Marriage in Hitchcock Films: From Rebecca to Marnie, for my MA in International Cinema, at the University of Luton (2002-2003), in Luton, UK.

‘‘ What is drama, but life with the dull bits cut out’’
– Alfred Hitchcock

Q°7. What are your thoughts on Coffee?
A°7. Love it – with a creamy soft blend (By the way I know what you mean by coffee 😉 – of course I haven’t made my coffee yet!!!)
(DONE)

*Nominate 7 Bloggers for all three awards pictured above.

1. Alex of Alex Raphael
2. Reut Ziri of Sweet Archive
3. Paul S of Pfeiffer Pfilms and Meg Movies (for Real Neat Blog Award)
4. Jonathan & Aaron Ferrara of Husband & Husband (for The Versatile Blogger Award & Real Neat Blog Award)
5. Robert of Righteous Cinema (for The Versatile Blogger Award & Real Neat Blog Award)
6. Vinnieh of Vinnieh (for Real Neat Blog Award & Beautiful Bloggers Award)
7. Ruth of Silver Screenings (for Real Neat Blog Award)
(DONE)

*List 10 questions for my nominees

Q°1. Which city/town, that you’ve lived in, is your favourite ?
Q°2. Which continent, that you’ve never travelled to, would you like to visit the most? Any specific country/countries?
Q°3. What’s your favourite English language novel, written by a non-British/American/Australian born author?
Q°4. What’s your favourite non-English language novel, translated into English?
Q°5. What’s your favourite non-fiction book?
Q°6. If Hitchcock were alive today, which Hitchcockian classic, would you like him to re-make, with the availability of  modern day technical wizardry, that didn’t exist back then?
Q°7. Who would you like, to be the new Hitchcockian blonde, from the 21st century, working in this new project of his?
Q°8. Which is your favourite decade, from the previous century? Which is your favourite decade in film, from the previous century?
Q°9. What 21st century film, set in the decade from 20th century that you love, is your favourite?
Q°10. From films made in the 21st century, within the last 15 years (rather 14½ years, ‘cause we are still in the  middle of 2015), which non-English language film, from which country, is your favourite?
(DONE)

Thanks again Akhiz Munawar for honouring my Blog, with a triple nomination.

*Special Note: As I stated, back in January 2014; after working on 8 nominations, within one month; kindly refrain from nominating me for any more Blog awards. At least for a while.

Thanking you
Nuwan Sen
(No Nonsense with Nuwan Sen)

Liebster, Dragon Loyalty & Beautiful Blog Awards

A Trio of Nominations
I’ve been nominated, by three different Bloggers, for a trio of Blog Awards.
Liebster Award by Vinnieh of Vinnieh on 20th May 2015
(A superb film blogger, and one of the earliest bloggers to locate my blog)
Dragon’s Loyalty Award by Reut Ziri of Sweet Archive on  29th May 2015
(A music and cinema blogger, whose blog I stumbled upon quite recently)
Beautiful Blog Award by Jonathan & Aaron Ferrara of Husband & Husband on 4th June 2015
(A couple of published authors, who also happen to be a lovely young married couple as well)

So thank you Vinnieh, Reut, Jonathan & Aaron for considering me worthy of the recognition you’ve awarded me, or rather, and especially, my Blog. And am truly sorry for the delay.

This is my 2nd Liebster Award (different logo though) and Dragon Loyalty Award (see my previous Blog Awards), and my very 1st Beautiful Blog Award.

So here’s the usual drill (as many of you, my fellow bloggers, would already know)

*Thank the people who nominated me, and add the pictures of the awards above. (DONE)

*Answer the eight questions prepared by Vinnieh, for me, for the Liebster Award

Vinnieh’s Q1. What made you decide to start writing a blog?
Nuwan Sen’s A1. I needed a platform, to place my film critiques, without anyone ruining my articles. So that I can publish them, in their original state, as written by me.

VQ2. A night out with friends or a movie night in?
NSA2. A night out with friends, watching a movie on the Big Screen; and then discussing and analysing it at length. But haven’t done that for ages.

VQ3. Buffy or Charmed?
NSA3. Neither

VQ4. What is favourite item of clothing?
NSA4. Straight/tight fit, Blue Jeans, that have never gone out of style since the 1800’s (for casual wear), with a loose simple T-shirt, or tucked in fitting shirt. Formal wear: I love the Indian Kurta, combined with the western formal trouser, with dress socks & sleek shoes.

VQ5. Who is your favourite actress if you had to choose just one?
NSA5. Audrey Hepburn, Of Course!!!!!

VQ6. How do you follow news around the world?
NSA6. On the net, television news, and foreign newspapers and magazines, when available.

VQ7. What is the most disturbing film you have ever seen?
NSA7. Rosemary’s Baby (1968) I think. It’s an excellent psychological horror movie, by veteran film director, Roman Polanski. I highly recommend it.

VQ8. Are you get up and go person or someone who needs to be motivated?
NSA8. Get up and go person (in the rest of the world) & someone who needs to be motivated (in lazy lethargic lanka).
(DONE)

*List 7 Random thing about myself for the Dragon Loyalty and Beautiful Blog, Awards

About Me
1. The best thing that happened to my life is Gingerella (a.k.a. Gingy). She’s my little pet (literally), a puppy I adopted on the 7th of December, 2014, exactly half a year ago, today (See & follow her Facebook Page, Gingerella Sen, if you are a dog/animal lover).

Last Night: Gingerella (a.k.a. Gingy) enjoying some of my Audrey Hepburn films, from my collection.
In my Room – On my Bed

2. I have never been on a date, till date. Been out with friends, both male and female, on a one on one basis (lunch/dinner/movie/other outings), but never on a date.

3. I believe in Equal Rights. Am a Gentleman to a Lady, and a bitch to bitch. Well actually I tend to have a lot of patience, but there is always a limit to everything and anything.

4. I practice my own version of the cliché, “Forgive & Forget ”. I prefer to forgive, and forget they ever existed.

5. I wish no one any harm. About people that make me unhappy, I wish them all the best, but hope that they just stay the fuck away from my life.

6. I love the city and country of my birth (New Delhi, India); but dislike the country of my unfortunate roots (Sri Lanka), that has given me nothing but misery (and where I happen to live now, unfortunately).

7. Paris is the most beautiful concrete jungle, I have ever lived in, till date.

8. I have lived in six countries, in three continents. I consider myself international, a citizen of the world, going beyond borders. I belong to any country, that accepts me as one of their own.
(DONE)

*Nominate 10 Bloggers for all three awards pictured above.

1. Ruth of Silver Screenings
2. Jim Turnbull of The Good, the Bad and the Average
3. Robert of Righteous Cinema
4. Kristina of Speakeasy
5. Paul S of Pfeiffer Pfilms and Meg Movies
6. Jackson of Movie Man Jackson
7. Akhiz of Akhiz Munawar
8. Roger of A Guy without Boxers
9. Coolsville of Coolsville
10. The Critic Man of Thy Criticman
(DONE)

*List 10 questions for my nominees

Nuwan Sen’s Q1. What’s your favourite novel?
NSQ2. What’s your favourite movie?
NSQ3. What’s your favourite movie, based on a novel, you have read?
NSQ4. What’s your favourite movie, based on a novel, you have not read?
NSQ5. British Hitchcock or Hollywood Hitchcock?
NSQ6. Non-American born Hollywood stars or American born Hollywood stars?
NSQ7. Which famous personality, did you idolise as a child, and whom do you idolise now, as an adult?
NSQ8. Which film starring Audrey Hepburn is your favourite? And which film role of hers, do you admire the most?
NSQ9. Who is your all time favourite film director?
NSQ10. What’s you favourite Oscar moment?
(DONE)

A Big Thank You, once again, for Vinnieh, Reut, Jonathan & Aaron, for honouring my Blog, No Nonsense with Nuwan Sen, with these award nominations.

Kind Regards
Nuwan Sen
(Nuwan Sen’s Film Sense)

One Lovely Blog Award

I’ve been nominated for the One Lovely Blog Award by the blogger who goes as, A Guy without Boxers, a nudist, named Roger, with a very picturesquely risqué blog. I was nominated early last month (3rd November 2014), when I wasn’t here in SL, but travelling Down Under. So congrats Roger, and thank you for nominating me & my blog, No Nonsense with Nuwan Sen.
Like any Blog Award in general, the recipient has to meet certain requirements, and here they are :-

1. Thank the person who nominated you, and post the award Logo. DONE (above).

2. Share seven facts about yourself.

(I) I am a born film buff. My first word as a baby most probably was ‘movies’, not ‘mamma’ like normal babies.
(II) I am an artist as well (Oil Paintings mainly) where too the concepts are mostly based on Cinema. I consider myself as an artiste with an ‘e’, due to my artistic nature in general.
(III) I love to read and write. Currently reading Ben Okri’s The Age of Magic, and am constantly writing.
(IV) I am still a virgin, partially by my own choice, as I’ve never had the desire to jump into bed with just anyone, to please other people, and yet never had the luck to be with the one I want to.
(V) I was born in New Delhi, India, to Sri Lankan parents, and having studied at the British School, in Delhi; Stafford International, in Colombo; University of Delhi, in Delhi; University of Luton, in Luton, UK; College of Fine Arts, at the University of New South Wales, in Sydney, Australia; and having lived in six countries, in three continents, and travelled around those three continents; I consider myself ‘International’, a citizen of the world, I go beyond borders.
(VI) English is my first language, as I studied in English all my life, and my brain works in English. Though my mother tongue is Sinhala.
(VII) Paris is my favourite city in the world, from the cities I’ve lived in, and the Country of Switzerland as a whole, and watery city of Venice, are my two favourite places, from the places I’ve visited.
DONE

3. Nominate 15 bloggers for the award and inform them of their nomination.

Through my previous experiences, am aware that many of my bloggers don’t like to continue this chain. And it doesn’t really feel right to just nominate a few. So I shall be kind enough to bend the rules for you here, as I did once before for The Liebster Award. Thus I nominate all my fellow Bloggers, who visit my blog and wish to continue this chain.
DONE

So wish you all the best, and thank you Roger for specifically nominating me, and again sorry for the delay on working on this post.

Cheers
Nuwan Sen

The Liebster Award

I’ve been nominated for the Liebster Award. I was nominated end of last month (30th April 2014), but just found out 11 days ago, on the 11th of May, 2014.
Like in my previous Blog Awards (Blog Awards), the rules are similar.

Rule.1 Thank the person who nominated me, and add the picture of the award on top.

I know, last time I mentioned not to be nominated for any more awards after I completed a post for…

The Sunshine Award

…(last year) and …

A Multitude of Awards

… (January 2014), but this is the first time Jim Turnbull of ‘The Good, the Bad and the Average’ (http://goodbadaverage.com/) has nominated me, so I thought I might as well do this post. So Thank you Jim, for this great honour you have bestowed upon me.

Rule .2 Answer 11 questions given by the person who nominated me.

Q1. What got you into blogging originally?
A1. My love and desire to write about cinema. I use to make lists/write-up critiques on IMDB (nuwansdel_02 and/or See all lists by nuwansdel_02), soon I wished to have my own page, my own blog.

Q2. What was the first movie you saw at the cinema?
A2. Oh Boy, I don’t remember, I was most probably a toddler when I first visited the cinema.

Q3. What was the last movie you saw at the cinema?
A3. Ramchand Pakistani (2008), a Pakistani Art film, based on a true story set in a prison in India, near the India/Pakistan border. I watched this around October last year, when it came for a Film Festival here. Prior to that, the last movie I watched at a cinema, that wasn’t in a festival, was Deepa Mehta’s Midnight’s Children (2012), exactly one year ago, in May 2013. Rarely are there good movies shown in the cinema’s here, thus these two movies are the only ones I watched on the big screen here, last year. I haven’t been to the cinema this year at all, so far.

Q4. If you could write and direct any film, what would it be about?
A4. Conversations with my Shrink Ha!!!

Q5.What do you think the most underrated film of all time is?
A5. There might be so many, but nothing specific comes to mind.

Q6. Who is your favourite director and why?
A6. Alfred Hitchcock, ‘cause it’s Hitchcock man, of course !!!! The greatest film director that ever existed. He had a unique style to convey psychological horror and tension, without any modern day visual antics. He manages to conjure up the atmosphere of a movie, and make you feel the presence of something that doesn’t exist on the screen. For example, in Rebecca (1940), he manages to make you feel the existence of a ghost without ever showing you one on screen, not even flicker or a hint of a sprit. The titular character ‘Rebecca’ doesn’t exist in the movie, but you feel her presence throughout while watching it. How many film directors today can do that without showing visually horrific images.

Q7. Where do you stand on blu-ray?
A7. Never, seen a film on ‘blu-ray’, so can’t comment. Prefer to check out the fishy ‘sting-ray’ whip it’s tail in warm water instead 🙂 .

Q8. What is your favourite movie line?
A8. “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn”, from Gone with the Wind (1939)

Q9. If you could recast any role with any actor/actress, who would it be?
A9. Why, Audrey Hepburn of course!!! Or do you mean someone alive, then I’d go for – actor Jude Law/actress Kate Winslet.

Q10.What is the longest film you have seen?
A10. Man, I’ve seen sooooo many long films; from Metropolis (1927) to Gone with the Wind (1939) to Taj Mahal (1963) to Cleopatra (1963) to Mera Naam Joker (1970) to Gandhi (1982) to Schindler’s List (1993) to more recently Les Misérables (2012); thus, am not sure which is the longest film I’ve seen till date. The shortest film, however,  that I’ve seen till date, happens to be the very first movie ever made, Lumière Brothers L’arrivée d’un train à La Ciotat (1895), which lasted only one minute.

Q11. Popcorn. Sweet or salted?
A11. Salted, Definitely!!! Ironic, considering the fact I have a sweet tooth.

Rule.3 Nominate 11 people, let them know and prepare 11 questions for them to answer. And, I cannot nominate the person who nominated me.

Through my experience of previous posts on Blog Awards, am aware that many of you don’t like to continue this chain. So I shall be kind enough to bend the rules for you here. All my fellow Bloggers, who wish to continue this chain, and any other newer blogger, who might come across this post, within this month, are nominated. Other than you of course, dear Jim, for you nominated me. Sorry!! And so far as answering the 11 questions are concerned, you may either answer the 11 questions prepared by Jim Turnbull, that I’ve answered myself, or check out my older Blog Awards (press on the link) and answer the questions I prepared in my previous Blog awards. Luckily this time I didn’t have to write something ‘About myself ’, unlike earlier.

So wish you all the best, and thank you Jim once again.

Cheers mate
Nuwan Sen

A Multitude of Awards

I have been nominated for a Multitude of Awards (December 2013 & January 2014). All the nominations were by the same gentlemen known as, Tom Ford (no not the fashion designer, but a Café blogger).
One for, The BLOG OF THE YEAR 2013, which he nominated me for on the 11th of December 2013. As some of you know I was ill at the time, thus found out much later. And for 7 other awards; Versatile Blogger Award, Shine On award, Reader Appreciation Award, Most Influential Blogger Award, The Most Creative Blogger Award, Dragon’s Loyalty Award and an award jestingly called The “Not featured on Freshly Pressed” WordPress Award; for all of which he had nominated me on the 7th of January 2014, and I found out on the 9th of January, 2014; but I never got around to working on the post for these awards till now, thus sorry for the delay Mr Ford.

The rules for the awards are somewhat similar, so like what Tom Ford did for the last 7 awards, I am doing the same thing. Just making one post for all, including all the rules.
——————————————-
So Here are the rules as follows:-
1. Post pictures of the 8 Blog awards.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Thank the person who nominated you, and post a link to his/her blog.

So Thank you Tom Ford for these prestigious awards, here is a link to his Blog Café, (http://thomasjford.wordpress.com), in which he serves up some delicious movies, music, books and you name it. Of course he’s changed the theme more recently, though I preferred the way it previously looked, like a black slate/blackboard and written on with white chalk.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
3. Select an amount of bloggers you feel deserve all these awards in one go, and write something about them, and let them know as well.
So my nominees are :-

Cindy Bruchman (http://cindybruchman.wordpress.com)
Cindy is fellow film buff. I came across her blog somewhere mid-last year, and she has been one of the most regular visitors on my blog since. She is also great photographer, a history teacher and a published author. I have great respect for her.

William Jepma (http://williamjepma.wordpress.com)
Billy the kid, is another film buff, and a student. I came across his blog in April/May last year, and have been a great fan of his reviews, and he’s checked out, liked and commented on my blog too a few times. I’ve really enjoyed reading his reviews, whether they are about movies that interest me or not, and to my comments (on his blog), he always has a kind reply with smiley face attached to it. I consider him a blog-pal. I feel, if we were to meet in real life, he’s the kind of person I might have a great rapport with.

Smealek’s poetry (http://thephilosof.wordpress.com)
Smealek’s blog, I came across around the first week of December, and he has some amazing poetry on his blog, and he’s been pretty frequent on mine, although I hardly got to post anything much last month.

Alina’s Literary Vittles (http://literaryvittles.wordpress.com)
I came across Alina’s blog, on the 1st of Dec 2013, a fellow bookworm and film buff, and occasionally she might write a post on something else entirely. On Fruit, for example. Ha!! Check out her blog you’ll know what I mean.

Robert Mudge (http://robertmudge.net)
Robert Mudge is a quadriplegic (after an accident that happened in 2001, in which a friend of his was killed), a great survivor, and a very brave person to move forward, and not let his disability pull him down. He definitely deservers all the recognition. And somebody has already nominated him for ‘The Blog of the Year 2013’ award, and now he can add one more star to it, along with rest of awards.

Bharti Singh (http://bhartisingh.wordpress.com)
Bharti has a photography blog that I stumbled across towards the end of December, while I was still recovering. She has taken some beautiful shots of New Delhi. Lot of foreign films try to show India as a dirty, filthy country. But there are plenty of places that are kept very clean especially in the capital city of India. Delhi itself has so much to offer. Check out her blog, you’ll enjoy it.

Righteous Robert (http://righteouscinema.wordpress.com)
Another fellow film buff, who has some amazing reviews on some really terrific movies.

Shaj’s Films (http://melovefilms.wordpress.com)
Yet another film buff whose blog I came across back in October 2013. Although she hasn’t written anything much recently, it’s worth checking out some of her older reviews. Especially her posts on good Indian movies.

J. James 36 (http://jjamesreviews.wordpress.com)
Yet another interesting Film Blog, I came across early last month.

Today I watched a movie (http://todayiwatchedamovie.com)
Last but not the least. There is an interesting story attached to the nameless character that does a blog called ‘Today I watched a movie’. He had first liked my post on ‘Eat Pray Love – The Mantra of Life’, back in January 2013; and I mistook him for friend of mine, Benoît. (Look at the two pictures below, the resemblance is uncanny, especially if you saw the earlier Gravatar image of the guy doing ‘Today I watched a movie’, Benoît too loves doing funny faces). So I e-mail Benoît, as well and commented on this blog, happy to hear from him after such a long time. Alas, I was wrong. But Benoît too was pretty surprised at seeing a picture of his doppelganger, and wrote back to me.

Benoît & I, Queue for Catacombs, Paris, France (25th July 2009)

Benoît & I, at Champs Élysées, Paris, France (8th Sept 2009)

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4. Say Hello to the Originator of The BLOG OF THE YEAR 2013.
(Link – http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/blog-awards-2/blog-of-the-year-2013-award)
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5. Finally list 7 interesting facts about yourself.
(i). I’m 6ft 2½” tall
(ii) I have jet black hair
(iii) I’m a loner, but not a recluse, for I love to socialise with like minded people.
(iv) My closest friends are from various different countries, and I don’t have a single true friend, to whom I can relate to, where I currently reside.
(v) I’m a very strong minded person, yet very sensitive at the same time, it takes me a long time to heal, especially heartbreak, yet psychologically am pretty strong.
(vi) Normally Illnesses don’t frighten me, and have managed on my own in the past; but last month (Dec 2013) I got so sick, I was afraid of dying all alone and untouched.
(vii) I am still reading Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel.

*Special Note to all my nominees: Please do not feel obligated to continue this if you don’t want to. There is no pressure, I know it could be a hassle to be nominated sometimes, you are still all winners in my eyes. But if you do get the time to do so, give it a try, who knows you may enjoy doing a different post, moving out of your comfort zone, for a change. And there might be people you like, that might enjoy getting nominated too. Please do not nominate me for any more awards for sometime though.

Thank you all
Cheers
Nuwan Sen

The Sunshine Award

I have been nominated for The Sunshine Award. This is my very first blog award. I was nominated, day before yesterday; by the kindly gentlemen known as, Tom Ford (no not the fashion designer, but a Café blogger); found out yesterday, but never got around to working on this post till now, sorry for the delay Mr Ford. To find out more about Tom Ford’s Blog Café, check out his website (www.thomasjford.wordpress.com), in which he serves up some delicious movies, music, books and you name it.

Being nominated isn’t enough. I can’t just sit around and wait, there are six rules, five of them in 11’s, each, and I have to work on it. So here they are :-

• Post a picture of The Sunshine Award in the blog post

(Chk)

• Post 11 random facts about oneself.

Me, Myself

1. I was born in New Delhi, India; but was never an Indian Citizen.
2. I’ve lived in six countries in three continents.
3. Unofficially, I’m a citizen of the world, I go beyond borders, I’m international, I belong anywhere where they accept me as one of their own. Anywhere, where I can live my life the way I want and find contentment, peace of mind and Happiness.
4. Am a total loser when it comes to love, romance & sex (never been lucky in love); but have achieved a lot in various other fields, like academia, travel and work experience (in different fields whether I needed or not)
5. I’ve been a movie buff since I can remember. My first word as a baby most probably was ‘Movies’, not ‘Amma’ (Mamma), even though I’ve been told otherwise.
6. As a baby my cheeks were supposedly as red as apples.
7. I’m a Midnights child (not on the dot); born on apparently a full moon night; but I do not possess any special powers.
8. I’ve been told that just before conceiving me, my mother had a dream of a beautiful white horse (or unicorn), gently walking towards her.
9. I don’t drink, but am not an anti-alcoholic either. I love desserts and enjoy ones with alcohol as well; that way you get the necessary sting, minus the bitter taste on your tongue. I’m also a chocoholic.
10. I love spicy food (specially North Indian Cuisine), but detest chillies. I hate it when loads of chilli, chilli and chilli tend to overpower and burn your taste buds and you can’t taste anything but chilli, in turn resulting in headaches and other unpleasant burning sensations in unwanted places. But I love various other comparatively milder spices.
11. As much as I’m a film buff, I’m also a bookworm. And am currently reading Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel.

(Chk)

• Answer the 11 questions from the blogger who nominated me. So Mr. Ford here you are :-

1. Safe House (2012), I watched it on cable TV (Star Movies), on Tuesday.
2. Imagine by John Lennon (not that it literally makes me cry, but I do feel pretty emotional and tend to lose myself into the song).
3. Christmas Pudding
4. My all-time favourite, would be the Brit-com (British sit-com) Fawlty Towers (1975-1979)
5. Liger (assuming it includes a Lion’s mane and a Tiger’s stripes)
6. Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) in Gone with the Wind (1939); what a relaxed mind, for he simply doesn’t ‘give a damn’.
7. No, I don’t mind giving you my blog address – http://www.nononsensewithnuwansen.wordpress.com, and phone no. Lucky7 (I wish). Ha!! Karaoke – Nope, I’m a singer in the shower.
8. Being able to start this blog. Ha!! No, I’d say being able to get two Masters, that I chose (MA in International Cinema and MA in Painting), done within the last decade; despite all the obstacles including a load of negative energy surrounding me and constantly trying to put me down. Same with my blog, including trying to get this post done.
9. Yup! Love Tom Ford. Wait!! Which Tom Ford ??? Ha!!!
10. Summer Crossing by Truman Capote
11. Yes, I generally like Matthew McConaughey (it actually depends on the role he does), but am not sure how much you do.

(Chk)

• Nominate 11 bloggers.
  And the nominees are :-

1. Cindy Bruchman (http://cindybruchman.wordpress.com)
2. William Jepma (http://williamjepma.wordpress.com)
3. Today I watched a movie (http://todayiwatchedamovie.com)
4. Vinnieh (http://vinnieh.wordpress.com)
5. Shaj’s Films (http://melovefilms.wordpress.com)
6. Otto von Münchow (http://munchow.wordpress.com)
7. Sebastián Arena (http://jsaaopinionpersonal.com)
8. Sheila Pringle (http://talkingtreesgallery.com)
9. Black Mountain (http://itsonthetellystupid.wordpress.com)
10. Fergal Casey (http://fergalcasey.wordpress.com)
11. Theadora Brack (http://peopleplacesandbling.com)

(Chk)
And these are not in random order. These are among my top 12 favourites, so far. Tom Ford (www.thomasjford.wordpress.com), who nominated me, thus not mentioned here, would have been within my Top-5. Congratulations to all of you.

• Write 11 questions for them to answer. So fellow nominees, here are my 11 questions. I shall make this easy for you.

Just tell me which of the two you prefer? You can only name one in each case, and if you like/dislike both, just tell me the one you like more, or dislike less.

1. Books or Movies
2. Friends or Family
3. Love or Lust
4. Chocolate or Chilli
5. Tea or Coffee
6. Snow or Sea
7. City Life or Country Living
8. Peaceful Solitude or Cheerful Crowds
9. Denims or Corduroys
10. Singing Songs or Reciting Poems
11. Love Stories or Romantic Comedies

(Chk)

• Let the nominated bloggers know that they have been nominated.

(Chk)

And To Mr. Tom Ford,
Thank you sir, once again, for this great honour, you’ve bestowed upon me.
Kind Regards
Nuwan Sen