Yep we did it! (Just like half of Bollywood.) And here’s why you should too!

MissMalini’s #ALS #IceBucketChallenge

Wait, what is the ice bucket challenge?

It’s an effort to raise awareness about ALS where you must dump a bucket of ice cold water on your head (with help if required) and then dare three people to do the same. If they can’t (ideally within 24 hours) they must donate $100 (₹6,000) to the ALS association. (FYI, you should do it, and donate anyway!)

What is ALS?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, lso referred to as Lou Gehrig‘s Disease. A progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord :( ALS is thought to be affect 2 people every 1 lakh of the global population. About 20% of people with ALS live 5 years or more, up to 10% live more than 10 years and about 5% live up to 20 years after diagnosis.

I get the donation part, but how does dunking a bucket of ice water help anyone?

It spreads awareness. The reason YOU and I now know about ALS is because someone poured a bucket of ice water on their head (and then dared somebody famous to do it.) I think that’s mission accomplished! :) Also a reported $31.5 million has been raised for the national ALS foundation since the Ice Bucket Challenge began on July 29 versus $1.9 million in 2012. Woot woot!

Btw, who started it? (The Ice bucket challenge, not ALS.)

This guy.

A professional Sarasota golfer is being credited with starting the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge that has exploded around the world. His Ice Bucket Challenge is reported to be the first connected to ALS for his wife’s cousin, Jeanette Senerchia, whose husband, Anthony Senerchia, in New York, who has battled ALS for 11 years. Chris Kennedy challenged three people, and then they challenged three people and pay it forward happened. Which Celebrities Would YOU Nominate For The #IceBucketChallenge? I hear Justin Bieber challenged Barack Obama. Bold move Biebs.

DONATE HERE.

PS. Did I mention Holi is my favourite day of the year? Us Desi’s have been playing the Ice Bucket Challenge for eons now. #JustSaying #ChallengeAccepted!

Posted on MissMalini

The Spirit of Bacardi Graphic Novel

What better way to bring out Bacardi’s Cuban heritage, than through a graphic novel? Nothing better I say, nothing! So as a way of retelling the amazing story of the Bacardi family in Cuba, Bacardi has announced the launch of a spectacular graphic novel, a first by any global brand! This really cool looking graphic novel is aptly titled The Spirit of BACARDÍ. To create this, BACARDÍ has collaborated with two of the most iconic names in the world of graphic novels: writer Warren Ellis and artist Michael Allred (who BTW added drops of BACARDÍ Gold rum to the inks so that the illustration looks real. Like really really real!)

Bacardi Graphic Novel

“Working on this project gave me the chance to bring to life a time and a place I’ve never worked with before – Cuba in the late nineteenth century,” said Allred. “I loved the idea of adding BACARDÍ rum to the ink to make it a real part of the graphic novel’s DNA. It’s something I have never done before and makes the artwork unique.”
Ellis said, “Storytelling requires great characters, and in Emilio Bacardí, we have exactly that. Emilio was a patriot, passionate about his homeland of Cuba. My focus was to bring his drive and determination to life.”

Spirit Of Bacardi

The Spirit of BACARDÍ focuses on Emilio Bacardí – son of founder Don Facundo Bacardí Massó and his tireless work for Cuban independence in the late 1800s. Emilio Bacardí was repeatedly imprisoned and exiled for his belief in an independent Cuba, but persevered, eventually becoming the first freely-elected Mayor of Santiago de Cuba.
The graphic novel also touches upon early challenges the Bacardí family faced and overcame – including an earthquake that destroyed their city and a fire that ravaged their distillery – and ends with the creation of the original Cuba Libre cocktail in 1900. Sounds like a great read! Can’t wait to get my copy, what about you?

Posted on MissMalini

Courtesy: cutestpaw.com

Guys! It’s National Dog Day on August 26!!! So on this wonderful occasion, National Geographic Channel (NGC) organized Mumbai’s first Woof Up for dogs and dog lovers in the city. The event had an interesting line-up of activities for all the two-legged pet parents and their dogs, including sessions on training tips and tricks and games like Snoopy Says, Chugging Contest, Puzzles and Temptation tower. Woof Up culminated with the screening of the first episode of ‘Cesar to the Rescue’ the channel’s new series hosted by famous dog trainer- Cesar Millan. Check out some pictures from the event!

Woof Up

Woof Up

Woof Up

Dogs really are the best aren’t they? Let’s have a look at the top 10 movie dogs we wuv because it’s only dogs who can Woof Up our days!

1) Marley and Me

Courtesy: Tumblr.com

I have cried buckets, BUCKETS at the end of this movie, just couldn’t stop. #MarleyFanGirlForever

2) Beethoven

Courtesy: Pinterest.com

Well, this is how my dad convinced my mom to bring home puppies, by making us watch this movie! This is how my family’s obsessive pet-parenting began and will continue till the end of time :)

3) 101 Dalmations

Courtesy: Tumblr.com

Brb, just getting myself 101 more pups.

4) Hachi: A Dog’s Tale

Courtesy: Tumbr.com

He waits 10 years for his owner at a railway platform. Stop me from crying some, please!!!

5) Must Love Dogs

Courtesy: Pinterest.com

If I ever get on Tinder, this is going to be the line in my dating profile!

6) Hum Aapke Hain Koun

Courtesy: http://imaansheikh.wordpress.com/

Hehe more than the movie I liked Tuffy! Plus he also played a very very important role, he gave the letter to Mohnish Behl instead of Salman Khan and got the latter married to Madhuri! Smart boy Tuffy, kudos to surviving in a family so crazy.

7) Bolt

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An adorable doggy who thinks he has superhero powers? I am sold! Because in my eyes *dramatic pause* all dogs have super-powers.

8) Scooby Doo

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Scooby gave me the impression that my dog could talk. I’m still waiting!

9) Entertainment

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Say what you want about the movie, but oh god this golden retriever was the best part in the entire film!

10) Teri Meherbaniyan

Courtesy: YouTube.com

Laugh all you want but never have a I ever seen a dog play a role more important than all the other protagonists in the movie! Moti is no ordinary dog, he’s a cool dog. Don’t believe me? Check this song out!

Dogs could some day rule the world, but they’re too decent to do that. Tell me your favourite pooch!

Posted on MissMalini

Team MissMalini’s CloseupInstaSmiles

At Team MissMalini, there’s only one thing that we love more than fashion and Bollywood and that’s taking pictures of ourselves! Whether it’s that early morning selfie or getting all dolled up in the middle of a work day just to take that one super hot photo (Rashmi, are you listening?) – we love all kinds of photos be it selfies, belfies and whatever other kind of ‘fies’ there might be. So when Closeup launched their Diamond Attraction campaign with 7 different kinds of ‘CloseupInstaSmiles’ we decided to do them all ourselves as well. Take a look

1. Rashmi Daryanani

You’ll generally spot Bollywood blogger, Rashmi Daryanani, at work sporting a bright lipstick with her hair parted to the side and taking a very cutsey photo of herself. Here’s what it looks like.

Rashmi Daryanani #GirlNextDoor

2. Dhruvi Shah

Dhruvi Shah is the one who, apart from writing her own blogs, checks and publishes everyone else’s blogs. So if you have any queries, she’s the one you need to check with.

Dhruvi Shah #LetsTalkBusiness

3. Mallika Kulkarni

Mallika Kulkarni, from marketing showed up to work today in a simple yet pretty salwar kurta and when she was asked to take a selfie, this is what it looked like

Mallika Kulkarni #YesIDo

4. Marv D’Souza

Sometimes when stylist Marv D’souza talks, no one but him understands what he means to say. A bit on the kooky side, Marv is easily the quirkiest one on the team.

Marv D’souza #OutOfYourLeague

5. Gigi Bedi

Team MM’s artiste extraordinaire, Gigi Bedi is our sporty girl. She loves rock climbing and because of this (I think) has legs that would put a supermodel to shame.

Gigi Bedi #SportSomeSpunk

6. MissMalini

Too bad the ‘Girl Next Door’ smile was already taken, because that would describe MissMalini perfectly! Coming in close second would be this one…

MissMalini #LetsGetFlirty

7. Anushka Mulchandani

After Rashmi, I’m not too ashamed to admit this, but I probably take the most selfies! So when I took this one, the tag just fit.

Anushka Mulchandani #AllEyesOnMe

And that’s us! We even went around Lakmé Fashion Week and spotted some fashionistas who give us their best smiles. Take a look at the album here.

Now excuse us while we go take some more, because when is just one selfie enough?

Posted on MissMalini

Courtesy: 9Gag.com

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is happening everywhere. Matt Damon, David Beckham, Benedict Cumberbatch, our desi stars, Abhishekh Bachchan, Daler Mehendi, Bipasha Basu and Riteish Deshmukh and of course our very own MissMalini and Nowshad took this challenge to be drenched in ice cold water to donate/raise awareness for the the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Every celebrity tryst with an ice bucket had seemingly ‘won’ the internet but they were wrong. So so wrong! The greatest person alive (in my opinion) has won and broke the internet with his unique take on the Ice Bucket challenge! Wondering who that great person is? That person is Sir Vennu Mallesh (knighted by me)! Not only has he taken the challenge, he has also explained the entire deal about this challenge for the uninitiated.
Check it out:

Epic is an understatement here. A gross understatement. Join me in the standing ovation I give this great person for blessing our lives with his videos.
Need more of Vennu Malesh and other YouTube sensations? Don’t fear, click here!
Donate here!

Posted on MissMalini

Self Esteem

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Self esteem is really the beliefs you have about yourself, it has much less to do with others initially. However, how you feel about yourself is reflected in how others treat you. In general, women experience on average about 13 negative thoughts about their body a day. This means we have our work cut out in trying to maintain a healthy self-image. The good news is, the only person you can change is yourself, on the other hand the only one who can do that heavy lifting is you.

Self Image

Here are 6 tips on maintaining a healthy self-image:

1.) Don’t let other speak poorly of you and don’t do it yourself. Share with your family and friends when what they say pulls you down; give them a chance to realize how they are impacting you and to choose to support you. Surround yourself as much as possible with people who build you up. Fill your life with people like singer John Legend who will love “all your curves and all your edges, all your perfect imperfections.”

2.) Make a self inventory – list the 5 most destructive things you say to yourself and 5 things you most appreciate about yourself (think of positive things others say to you if you have a hard time coming up with the list). When your inner critic throws one at you from the destructive side of the list, combat it immediately with one from the complimentary list. Be on your own side; if you won’t, then who else would?

Help Yourself

3.) Be compassionate with yourself – if you can’t think kindly of yourself, it won’t matter what others think. Say “stop” to your inner critic. Replace that destructive thought with something more productive immediately and give yourself some credit.

4.) Choose a pump-yourself-up, confidence anthem and play it when you need a boost and a reminder of your value.

5.) The comparison trap: Don’t spend time comparing yourself to others, you know only what you can see. Each of us our own struggles with imperfection that you can’t see when you first look at us. Perfection is a myth, don’t perpetuate it.

6.) The only way you will feel differently is to focus on self acceptance rather than comparison. Make a conscious choice about how you want to spend your energy – feeding inadequacy or feeding self-confidence. Whatever you feed will grow.

Building Confidence Wheel

You don’t have a choice in how you were born, you do have a choice about what you do with it and how you feel about yourself for the rest of your life.

Be unapologetically yourself.

Thrive on Purpose.

Dr. Sahar Bhaloo is a Doctor of Psychology from the US, a leading expert of Global Mental Health. She is currently working on improving mental health care access and services in Mumbai. She will be a part of our extra special #ChicksRule Google+ Hangout with the Khoobsurats Sonam Kapoor and Adhuna Akhtar on September 5th at 5pm, so make sure you enter the contest to dial in here – you can ask her questions live and find out more. Because, after all, chicks really do rule, and we want you to remember that. :)

Posted on MissMalini

I can now safely say, without a shadow of a doubt, that Mumbai is a city that will make your ALL your dreams come true. All you have to do is dream it, wish it and then DO IT!

MissMalini’s World

Tonight we launch our very own lifestyle/reality show on the #1 Lifestyle Channel in the country – TLC – and for the next 13 weeks you get a peak behind-the-scenes at MissMalini.com and everything we love about Bollywood, Fashion and the big fat Indian Lifestyle. (All of that with a desi girl twist of course!)

#MMWorld

Please tune in, 7:30pm every Friday night on TLC (and catch the repeats on Saturday at 5:00pm and Wednesday at 3:00pm). And let me just say, I could never have done this without you, my dear reader. So thank you for all your unconditional love and support, YOU made this happen! My world is now yours to see and be a part of, starting TONIGHT! #MMWorld #tothemoon

Psst! I’m always looking for suggestions and ideas, so post a comment below with who or what you’d like to see more of on our show. Which celebrities you love most, indie artists you’d like to hear, beauty tips and fashion hacks you want to learn and places you’d like to go… just leave me a comment below and let me know! xoxo

Posted on MissMalini

Join The Cause – Dolphin’s Day, 6th September 2014

When you think of dolphins, you think of cute creatures that are always jumping, always smiling, always loving. We associate them with playfulness, transcendence, intelligence, harmony and gentleness, and in some weird yet intrinsic way, friendship. Being the animal lover that I am I obviously jump at any opportunity to watch any insightful documentary. I kept hearing about ‘The Cove’ and how the cast had gone over and beyond to film the truth. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be just that – the truth! And the truth turned out to be a horror story of dominance, torture, kidnapping and murder.

The Story:

Join The Cause – Dolphin’s Day, 6th September 2014

Each year from the 1st of September right through end of March, thousands of dolphins and porpoises are driven to shore by means of auditory torture by creating a deafening wall of ‘sound’. In an ironic twist of fate, a “lucky” handfuls are selected for a lifetime of captivity in parks and aquariums and the remaining thousands, are dragged into a cove where they are brutally murdered. One of the most stirring visuals from the film, that doesn’t seem to leave me, is where you can see the large cove which was once blue, turn into deep torturous red because of the bloodbath. Thousands of dolphins killed instantly and the others swimming in a pool of their own blood until they too, slowly die.

The Why:

Join The Cause – Dolphin’s Day, 6th September 2014

So, what good does a dead dolphin do? Truthfully… nothing at all. Because their meat has such high levels of mercury that it instantly starts to poison anyone who eats it. Levels of mercury that are sometimes 1,600 times the allowed quantities in meat for human consumption. Once upon a time, this meat was being given to children as their ‘free’ but ‘compulsory’ meal in school. With the help of this documentary this practice was finally banned. So why is Japan still killing over 23000 dolphins and porpoises a year? And where does all that meat go? It goes into supermarkets labeled as whale meat and half the people who eat it don’t even know what it really is.

The Other Evil:

Join The Cause – Dolphin’s Day, 6th September 2014

We are moulded from a very young age to believe in SeaWorld and the “happy place” it is, and the good they do with research and care on their animals. But in this day and age, we know better. There are facts upon facts that prove otherwise, and it is just our human conditioning to act ignorant to the inhumane practices that are being carried out. That is what needs to change.
When we see them at a dolphin show, what do we see? We see a dolphin eager to please and ready to do whatever the trainer wants it to. Why? Because it is hungry, starved till it does it’s trick. Yes, the cruel reality is that dolphins perform tricks only to earn their food. The trainers call their training method “positive reward.” From the dolphins’ perspective, however, it’s food deprivation. If the dolphins get it wrong and the whistle is not blown, that means they won’t be getting any fish reward. The won’t get fed.

If you understand the life of captive dolphins, you also begin to see the dolphin show with all its clowning around in another way. It’s not clever anymore. It’s abusive. The saddest part is that it’s our fault. We have allowed the entertainment industry not only to twist a beautiful species into a parody of itself but also allowed them to profit from it. A live dolphin captured for a marine mammal park can fetch up to $200,000.

Join The Cause – Dolphin’s Day, 6th September 2014

And when the show is over, these majestic creatures that have just been awe-inspiring, are left to languish in their tank or more often, cage and wait for the next show. For their next feeding. An animal that is used to swimming in the free and endless ocean, within large pods of dolphins, is now kept in a small tank with maybe 1 or 2 other dolphins that he/she may not necessary get along with. Sometimes these differences also end up in the death of the weaker dolphin as it doesn’t have anywhere to go.

What YOU can do:

Japan Dolphins Day is an annual worldwide event headed by renowned activist Ric O’Barry. It is a peaceful positive media event with dolphin supporters coming together in cities around the world. Our goal is to raise awareness of the annual Dolphin Drive Hunts in Taiji, Japan and elsewhere in the world; and to highlight the links between these slaughters and the global captivity industry.

This year, for the first time in India, we will gather to show the Japanese Government that we will no longer accept these abuses to our friends in the sea. That we do not condone the capture of, or continued slaughter of dolphins. Please join us in showing that we will not give up the fight! We also support the Japanese people’s right to know about contamination of dolphin and whale meat, so our concerns include the welfare of people of Japan, and ensuring public safeguards so that no meat is laced with mercury and radioactivity.

The How:

1) Place: 6th September 2014, Marine Drive Promenade (Opposite Police Gymkhana) Time: 4.00PM – 6.30PM
2) Make posters, banners or express yourself in other creative ways to castigate this injustice. (Please note that we must be respectful of the Japanese people. We DON’T CONDONE racial slurs, comments or actions that could be any way perceived as ANTI-JAPANESE.)
3) Bring an umbrella (It might rain, so come prepared!)
4) Dresscode : BLUE

You can also watch the trailer of The Cove, here:

Hope to see you there, where we will spread the word, and make new friends who will help us all get through the horrors of the Dolphin Drive Hunt season.

Posted on MissMalini

Courtesy: www.pinterest.com

Guys! We get it. Approaching a woman sometimes isn’t the easiest of tasks and a lot of people would argue that the ever so famous pick-up line could be a great conversation starter. Especially when you’re at a gathering, wondering how to approach that girl you find interesting. But, hey, hold your horses. If you’re going to use those pre-packaged, cliched lines on her, you might as well just avoid talking to her because, come on! Nothing is more annoying than cheese overload. Right, ladies? Here’s our list of top ten pick-up lines that you  most definitely should stay away from. You can thank us later. *lol*

Courtesy: www.pinterest.com

So, boys… Listen up and take note!

1. So.. how would you like your eggs? Poached, scrambled or fertilised?

This is by far the WORST pick-up line I have heard and have unfortunately witnessed someone using. Made me cringe!

2. Are you a parking ticket? Because you’ve got fine written all over you.

This just screams TACKY! Anybody agree?

3. IS THAT A SHOVEL IN YOUR BACK POCKET? ‘CAUSE I’M DIGGIN’ THAT ASS.

Courtesy: www.quickmeme.com

4. Aw, girl, I’m gonna have to put you on my “To Do” List!

You can be sure this girl is going to run away from you this very instant. No kidding.

5. DID IT HURT WHEN YOU FELL FROM HEAVEN?

So, I just called Domino’s but they told me they ran out of cheese, because you’ve USED IT ALL UP! Get the drift? Overkill.

Courtesy: www.pinterest.com

6. Nice legs; what time do they open?

I’m going to be surprised if you weren’t smacked across the face!

7. Is your father a baker? Because you have really nice buns.

Nu-uh! You didn’t just say that.

8. DO YOU HAVE A SUNBURN OR ARE YOU ACTUALLY THIS HOT?

…… Why? Just, why?

Courtesy: www.pinterest.com

9. if i gave you a nickel, would you tickle my pickle?

Crude.. and how!

10. MY LOVE FOR YOU IS LIKE DIARRHOEA. I JUST CAN’T HOLD IT IN!

Did this make you go WTF too? :P

Courtesy: www.pinterest.com

Bonus: 11. If you were a transformer, you’d be Optimist FINE!

Now now now… Good try! ;)

Courtesy: www.pinterest.com

While you’re at it, here, watch these hilarious videos that teach you how to Approach women!

Courtesy: www.pinterest.com

But if you want to take some inspiration from Bollywood, here are some of our favourite romantic lines. Now, you guys tell us.. what’s the best or the worst pick-up line you’ve heard? We want to know! Drop us a comment below. :)

Posted on MissMalini

TrulyMadly App

If you sighed at the end of movies like Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail, hoping for your own romance in the age of technology. If you’re looking to meet someone, and gradually fall in love, you don’t want it to be with just anybody. We all have mental checklists of what we’re looking for in a partner. This is where TrulyMadly comes in. It is a new, modern way to find true, mad love, that combines a compatibility algorithm based matching with stringent security and validation processes to protect and connect like-minded singles. The service connects relevant matches, carefully selected based on user preferences in a non-imposing manner, thereby promoting true and mad love.

TrulyMadly App

To make things easier, TrulyMadly has launched a love app for Android users. We’re always on the go, hoping to meet someone like-minded. This app matches stringently verified profiles, through unique personality quizzes based on a unique proprietary compatibility algorithm.

TrulyMadly App

Commenting on the launch of the app, Rahul Kumar, Co-Founder, TrulyMadly said, “Our love app is an extension of the website and has been designed, especially keeping in mind the Indian values and preferences. Our aim is to create a community for our members to engage with other like-minded singles without any apprehensions and we believe that your phone is now the best way to find real love. The app has a very distinct design, is high on the ‘cool quotient’ and we are confident people will find it fun and useful to use.”

TrulyMadly App

In real life, a friend will not introduce us to random strangers. Just like that, the TrulyMadly love app also ensures that it does not spam any user profile, suggesting only verified and relevant matches for a user, basis his/her preferences. Some of the app’s striking features are:

Trust Score: This unique feature ensures robust verification of all user profiles through their Facebook and LinkedIn accounts. The feature also encourages the users to authenticate their profiles by providing their passport, ID proof, employment details and mobile phone number on optional basis, to gain a higher trust score. The higher the score, more are the chances of a user finding a suitable match.

Safe & discreet: The app facilitates secured storage of user data to ensure that there are no loopholes for hacking. It further ensures that user’s profile can only be viewed by relevant matches and chat option is only available for users who have mutually liked each other.

Values and Adaptability Test: This feature encourages users to answer multiple choice questionnaires, that depict their views not only their lifestyle preferences, but also of the partners they wish to seek.

Intelligent Recommendation Engine: This distinctive feature of the app creates ‘only relevant’ matches for the user basis his/her profile, instead of sharing an extensive database.

No Search, No Spam: The app does not facilitate a search engine for casual surfing, so that frivolous users cannot spam others unnecessarily.

TrulyMadly App

We know you’re itching to check out TrulyMadly right away. Download the app from the Google Play Store on smartphones that support the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS. Check out TrulyMadly.com and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

Posted on MissMalini

Courtesy: krishoonetwork.com

Well the Game Of Thrones theme song is quite epic to say the least. For most of the shows I’d forward the opening theme but during Ramin Djawadi’s creation I honestly get goosebumps! The theme is so awesome, even the Queen’s guard played an epic version of this! Now it seems even Mumbai’s favourite, Lord Ganesh of House Shiv-Parvati likes the theme song as much as we do (always knew Ganpati Bappa had swag). Wondering what I’m talking about? Check out this Mumbai Dhol Tasha cover of the Game Of Thrones theme (with Nasik Dhol no less) aptly titled: Aamcha Game of Thrones!

I loved LOVED this energetic Nasik Dhol version of this epic theme song! What about you?
P.S.: I’m sure the Lannisters approve, look at them groove!

Courtesy: Tumblr.com

Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Posted on MissMalini

Organ Donation

More than half a million Indians are estimated to be in dire need of an organ transplant. Yet, less than a thousand transplants from deceased donors are performed each year. Some of these people will find a living donor who will donate an organ to them. The rest will probably die waiting for an organ. You can help. Here are 10 things everyone should know about organ donation.

Organ Donation

1) First off, there is a common misconception that organs can be donated by anyone after their death. That is not true. Donations following a cardiac death are donations of tissues, that are eyes, skin, bones, heart-valves. You can even donate your body for research. But once a person dies a cardiac death, organs like the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, intestines also die from lack of blood supply. So donation of vital organs is not possible once the heart stops beating.

It is only in the case of brain death, when it’s determined that the brain has ceased working (no electrical activity, blood flow or function in the brain) and the condition is irreversible, that a person can donate his/her organs. Even though the person is Brain Dead, it’s still possible to sustain organ function through use of a ventilator. Therefore organ donations (transplantation of organs from a donor to a waiting recipient) can only happen when a person is already in a hospital on a ventilator and then brain death occurs. This is called deceased organ donation.

2) Many families refuse to accept brain death as a form of death. In this situation, when the heart is still beating artificially, it makes the declaration of brain death extremely hard, especially since the concept is unknown to many. Lack of clarity makes the already emotional family unwilling to accept death. Watch this short and easy to understand film on what brain death is.

The family may also be sceptical about the intentions of the hospital. They feel that it is either due to the lack of motivation on the part of the hospital to continue with the treatment, or their interest in getting organs which is pushing them to declare brain death.

The truth is that the medical fraternity follows very strict standards laid down by the Transplantation of Human Organs Act 1994, to determine if a person is brain dead or not.

In India, a panel of 4 doctors has to declare you brain dead before your organs can be harvested. One of these is the registered medical practitioner in charge of the hospital, a registered medical practitioner approved by the government, the treating physician, and a neurologist/neurosurgeon/intensivist/surgeon also approved by the government to declare a brain death.

This panel will declare the brain death only after a series of exhaustive tests, which are repeated twice with a gap of six hours. In most countries around the world, these tests are done only once.

Organ Donation

3) Brain death is NOT coma. Coma is a state of deep unconsciousness, where the brain continues to function and the person can breathe on his/her own, without the help of a ventilator. Brain activities can be seen through various tests. Thus the brain still has the capacity to heal, and the person can come out of coma. If there is even a slight amount of activity in the brain or any reflexes, the person will not be declared brain dead, and the same will be communicated to their families.

Brain death results from such severe injury (like a roadside accident or a stroke) that the damage is permanent and all functions of the brain stop totally. It is not possible to recover from Brain Death. A brain death person is not suffering from Brain Death. He/She is dead.

4) No organ donation can be carried out without the consent of the next of kin. Unlike in many western countries where people can make the choice in their lifetime and it’s legally binding, in India no donation can happen unless the next of kin agree. The final choice is left to the family. So it’s crucial that you speak to your family about your intention to be an organ donor, should anything happen. Even if you decide to pledge your organs, if your family says no at the time, then it’s a no.

5) You should know that one organ donor can save up to 9 lives and positively affect up to 50 others if all organs and tissues are used effectively! 2 kidneys, 2 lungs, heart, liver can be split into two and help save two people, intestine, pancreas and sometimes even the small bowel can save a life. In addition to vital organs, corneas, skin, bones, heart valves etc can significantly improve peoples’ lives.

Organ Donation

6) Your organs will not be sold. They will be given to the most needy donors at the hospital you are at or at other hospitals in the city or even country. Just this week, a heart was flown from Bangalore to a patient at a hospital in Chennai for a life saving transplant!

7) There is time limit within which families have to decide if they want to donate their loved ones’ organs. Despite the ventilator, once brain death occurs, the organs will start to fail. It’s very difficult for doctors to maintain the organs at a level where they are still suitable for transplantation. This is why awareness is crucial so that families are already aware of organ donation and can decide whether they want to go through with it or not.

8) Your body will not be mutilated during the retrieval of organs. There is a single incision made through which organs will be retrieved, and the body will be cleaned, stitched and handed back to the family in the most respectful manner. No one will be able to notice that anything is amiss.

Organ Donation

9) Despite India being the world’s second most populous country, it has a pathetic deceased donation rate of just 0.26 per million population compared to 26 in the US, 35 in Spain and 36.5 in Croatia – which has the highest organ donation rate in the world! In the West, most transplants are dependent on deceased donors. In India, most transplants are dependent on living donors. (Livers and kidneys can be transplanted from living donors to other living donors.)

10) In 2013, considered to be one of the best years for organ transplantation in India, just 852 transplants, including heart, lung, liver and kidney, were carried out, even as lakhs waited for an organ to give them a fresh lease of life. In the US, this figure was 22,966. The figures speak for themselves. The rest is your choice. Pledge your organs during your lifetime. Talk to your family. Save lives.

Organ Donation

Look, MissMalini is an organ donor too.

MissMalini

For more information on organ donation, log on to www.organindia.org, where you can also fill out a form and claim your donor card. We will mail it to you within two weeks. Or call us at 011-41838382 or 9818303306 if you have any questions. Visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ORGANINDIA

Posted on MissMalini

Natania Lalwani

1. She could be India’s answer to Taylor Swift! Box You Up is so catchy, you are going to be singing “Oh oh oh oh oh… ” as you take that train ride to work for a while after you hear this. The 21-year old Bombay girl who lives and writes in Los Angeles describes her sound as “warm and cozy pop“.

Box You Up

2. The romantic in you is going to love the lyrics. She wrote it about a boy she once liked, and all she wanted to do was get rid of those feelings. Yes, I know, we have all been there, right? Also, at the time she was moving homes in L.A. and was surrounded by boxes and she just put two and two together. We love when she sings “I am gonne box you up, make sure they remember, if undelivered, don’t return to sender”. Word.

Natania Lalwani

3. The animated video with lyrics is adorable. The “box” goes on a journey off the world, past the Taj Mahal and the pyramids until it finds who it was meant to be with. You’ll thank her for the lyrics because you are surely going to want to sing along. You can listen to it here, and exclusively on VH1 on TV and download it on iTunes from today!

What do you think of this track?

Posted on MissMalini

Courtesy: wordpress.com

I love big books and I cannot lie! But some of them go straight above my head… like right over it! But can I admit that part? No I can’t, because I don’t want to look dumb. But now after being tricked into drinking Veritaserum (the truth potion from Harry Potter) I have decided to come clean and list down the books I claim to love but just don’t understand. NOT! I will NEVER admit to my weakness ever; this is instead a list of books I think people pretend to love… but don’t understand (I understand everything).

Disclaimer: Please take the afore-written description with a pinch of salt, I’m generally a nice person. XOXO!

1) Ulysses by James Joyce

Courtesy: Pinterest.com

Considered to be one of the most important works of modernist literature Ulysses is 265,000 words in length, uses a lexicon of 30,030 words (including proper names, plurals and various verb tenses), and is divided into eighteen episodes. I mean I know people who claim to love it are lying because reading this book in the first place is a task in itself!

2) 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

Courtesy: http://www.domesticetch.com/

This multi-generational story of the Buendía family confused the hell out of me. I know it’s considered to be Gabriel García Márquez’s masterpiece but man, this masterpiece goes right above my head (admit it, it goes above your head too).

3) The God Of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

Courtesy: Pinterest.com

Don’t get me wrong, I’m supremely proud of an Indian (especially a woman) winning the Booker Prize but frankly *spoiler alert* I didn’t understand the need for the twins to… you know, consummate their relationship to strengthen their bond. It’s weird.

4) The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Courtesy: deviantart.net

I don’t know if anyone can love this book. Appreciate it? Yes! Applaud Sylvia Plath’s accurate depiction of a woman suffering from clinical depression? Yes! But loving this book? Hmm…

5) War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Courtesy: dailylit.com

Expectations: Reading this book in one go and appearing smart in the next conversation you have with anyone.
Reality: Reading the plot on Wikipedia and attempting to appear smart in the next conversation you have with anyone.

6) Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Courtesy: Pinterest.com

I can’t even pronounce the author’s name. Forget about the book!

7) Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Courtesy: http://sheshntrev.blogspot.in/

Too many mommy issues, too many daddy issues. As much as I loved Julius Caesar; Hamlet I couldn’t understand. I guess I’ll just stick to watching Haider.

8) Bleak House by Charles Dickens

Courtesy: WordPress.com

The characters, the sub-plots, the basic premise of a long running litigation process is far too taxing to read and then love.

9) Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

Courtesy: Wikipedia.org

I think the Ayn Rand philosophy was beautiful and readable in The Fountainhead, in Atlas Shrugged however awesome her statement of Objectivism was, it got too textual and lengthy. Frankly, quite unreadable.

10) Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Courtesy: paminasopera.com

I mean even the movie put a strain on people, imagine the book!

What are your suggestions on this fascinating topic? Tell tell!

Posted on MissMalini

Indian Globe | Courtesy: www.dreamstime.com

Every now and then when I tell people I’m from India, I see their faces and can just tell they have a lot of questions. Some good, some bad! So, I literally wait for them to get done with the questions and assumptions, so I can secretly laugh at their ignorance – in my head, of course. Happens with you too? I’m sure I’m not the only one! All of you must have experienced this at some point in your life :P So, here goes:

1. You’re from India? Then how is your English so good?

Yes, because you are the only one that speaks the language. Just FYI, India is a country with the second largest English speaking population in the world.

 2. DO YOU SPEAK INDIAN?

Do you speak American or Czechoslovakian or Canadian? Indian is not a language.

3. Life must be so tough in a third world country

Totally.

4. SO YOU MUST REALLY LOVE YOUR CURRIES!

Because we don’t have access to anything but curries.

5. So, you’re also going to have an arranged marriage right?

Some of us like to fall in love and surprise ourselves.

6. Eating non-spicy food must be so hard for you.

7. Do you use bleaching/fairness creams too?

Yes, we also eat some when we want to feel fair and lovely on the inside.

8. OMG! YOU MUST BE SO GOOD AT YOGA. I MEAN, INDIANS ARE KNOWN FOR YOGA

Yes, we’re known for Yoga but not all of us practice it (though we totally should because it’s awesome). But… if you want to think I’m mad flexible and can do things most people can’t, please, by all means, go ahead. I’m not going to stop you. ;) *evil grin*

9. HOW’S IT TRAVELLING TO PLACES ON ELEPHANTS?

NBD… Just like how it is travelling on Polar bears.

10. There’s an Indian in my class. Do you know him?

Um, yes, with a population larger than a few countries put together, we all know each other because it’s absolutely possible.

11. You people really must love your song and dance (aka Bollywood)

You will be surprised to know that not all Indians love typical Bollywood films. Everyone’s got their own opinion on this. And no, we don’t break into a dance if something significant happens. Just, no.

12. you guys worship cows? so does that mean all indians are vegetarians?

Do you relate with any of these? How often has this happened to you? We want to know. Drop us a comment below. :D

Posted on MissMalini

Hate losing | Courtesy: pinterest.com

The holiday season is notorious for people gaining a few extra kilos or sometimes, in my case, WAAAAYYYY too many kilos! So, what do you do then? Of course, you promise yourself that you’re going to train like a beast all day, err… day but… We only know too well what’s going to happen. ;) So, here are 7 things only a person trying to lose weight will relate to, while the rest of world stands there, judging us.

Summer body | Courtesy: facebook.com

1. YOU STOCK UP ON JUNK FOOD AND STUFF IT ALL IN YOUR MOUTH BEFORE YOU BEGIN EATING HEALTHY. YOUR WAY OF SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD.

We love junk food

Because there’s this assumption that weight loss involves eating just salads and drinking water. So, you try to eat as much junk food as you can before you begin. Vicious, vicious cycle! :P

 2. YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME GOOGLING “HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT” OR READING UP HEALTH MAGAZINES AND LATER CRYING ON THE INSIDE BECAUSE THE BODY OF THE PERSON ON THE COVER IS INCREDIBLE AND YOU’RE A FAR CRY AWAY FROM IT!

Far cry away from that body | Courtesy: tumblr.com

3. THINK ONE MINUTE ISN’T LONG ENOUGH? YOU CLEARLY HAVEN’T BEEN on A TREADMILL!

Just let me go | Courtesy: tumblr.com

Okay, this just defines my life. You know when you’re walking/jogging/doing whatever else on the treadmill, and you get so tired but can’t stop because you must reach your goal? You begin to frantically look at the timer on the side and will be surprised how slow time actually goes by. Damn you, time.

4. YOU THINK TWICE BEFORE GOING TO DINNER PARTIES BECAUSE YOU’RE NOT SURE IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RESIST ALL THAT DELICIOUS LOOKING FOOD.

Cannot deal | Courtesy: tumblr.com

If you’re anything like me, you’ll know how hard THIS is! You’ll probably end up saying “Okay, let me take one bite…. just one bite,” and before you know it, your plate’s full with food you should totally stay away from. *Sigh* Why must life be this hard?

5. Aunties, uncles, relatives that you meet occasionally will always remind you of your weight. “Moti ho gayi ho. I’ve got some pills from America. Try toh kar le.”

Killing you in my mind | Courtesy: tumblr.com

STOP. Just, stop okay? Let me be.

6. You wear oversized clothes, so it makes you feel thin. You trick your mind into thinking “Hah! These clothes are loose. I must have lost some weight.”

Fat Amy | Courtesy: www.pinterest.com

*LOL*. Really now?

7. YOU MUST GO THROUGH ALL YOUR PHOTOS ON FACEBOOK. ANY PICTURE THAT ISN’T FLATTERING, MUST BE DELETED. PRONTO!

Look at me | Courtesy: tumblr.com

Are you always trying to find your best and most flattering angle to take pictures of yourself? You’re not alone. The whole world does this. Literally. :P

But at the end of day, you keep telling yourself you only have one life. YOLO, man! If you’re not going to eat all this amazing, delish food now, when will you? Got to make the most of it all, right? *LOL* Do you guys relate to any of these? Let us know in the comments below, because hey! You’re not alone. ;)

Posted on MissMalini

Kalki Koechlin, Richa Chadda and Cyrus Sahukar at the Trivial Disasters Press Conference

Trivial Disasters is a serious comedy, yes you heard that right, a serious comedy! One of the best productions on Indian theatre, Trivial Disasters stars Kalki Koechlin, Richa Chadda, Purab Kohli and Cyrus Sahukar. The unique thing about this play is that Kalki is playing five roles! When prodded further, Kalki spoke about it, “one is a very shy girl, then an older lady, even a young sales boy who is hyper and energetic. So it is a fun play.” Did you hear that guys? She plays a boy too! Talk about being talented. To know more about this awesome play, check out her interview for MissMalini right here!

On that note, let’s list down 10 trivial disasters we have to deal with everyday, because why not!

1) daily fight with the alarm clock and love for the snooze button!

Courtesy: Reddit.com

2) Dealing with the abrupt end to your wonderful sleep

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3) Colleague messing with your lunch

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4) Work

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5) Saying something controversial because you have no brain filter

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6) Getting stuck in traffic

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7) Having too much work to finish. Like Just too much!

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8) Not being able to complete said work because, TV.

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9) Not getting sleep

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10) Waking up to face another day!

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These are the trivial disasters most of us face, in my opinion! What do you think?

Want to know more about the wonderful play I was talking about? Tune in to Miss Malini’s World tonight at 7.30 pm to catch all the theatre action with the stars of Trivial Disasters only on TLC India!

Posted on MissMalini

Taylor Swift | Courtesy: tumblr.com

If there’s one thing some of us have become by now, it’s a relationship expert. *LOL* Just kidding! I don’t think that’s ever going to be possible, but we’ve all been through heartbreak and have had at least one ex girlfriend or boyfriend. So, we, at MissMalini, have taken up the mammoth task (not) of listing the 7 types of exes there are. Here goes!

Courtesy: tumblr.com

1. LETS BE FRIENDS

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Baby, it’s not you, it’s me. I need to work on myself, but let’s be friends?

2. THE STALKER

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Follows you on Facebook? Check. Follows you on Twitter? Check. Follows you on Instagram? Check. You get it, don’t you? Basically follows you on every social media platform there is. This person can even create a fake account just to watch your every move and know what you’re up to.

3. THE FIRST LOVE

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It’s true what they say. Your first love is always hard to forget! You’ll always have a special corner for them in your heart. (Whether you like it or not.)

3. THE JEALOUS EX

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Will think they’re doing you a favour by sabotaging your current relationship, but honestly, I think this kind of ex needs help immediately. *LOL*

4. THE ONE THAT BEHAVES LIKE THE RELATIONSHIP NEVER EXISTED

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5. THE ONE THAT DISAPPEARED. *POOF!*

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Courtesy: tumblr.com

You have no idea if this person is dead or alive. Remember how quickly they came into your life and took over it? Yup, they’ve disappeared just as quickly.

6. THE BOOTY CALL

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You know, when some itches need to be scratched sometimes? We know only too well how this no strings attached thing going on here will end up. :P

7. THE YO-YO

Courtesy: tumblr.com

Courtesy: tumblr.com

Break up – Make up – Break up – Make up – Break up – Make up. Vicious cycle.

Do you relate to these? Have you had any exes like these in the past? We want to hear. Do let us know in the comments below! :D

Posted on MissMalini

Phoenix Market City

Good news, good news, good news for the ladies in Mumbai! One of the biggest malls in the city, Phoenix Marketcity Kurla, is celebrating women in its month long festival called Power Women Fiesta! Yup – so if you’re a lady who loves to shop (who doesn’t?) just head to  Phoenix Marketcity at Kurla and avail special discounts on all the brands and restaurants in the mall.

This wonderful celebration of ladies kicked off with the Power Women Brunch, hosted by Vahbiz Mehta and Manasi Scott on 26th August, attended by various power women, including MissMalini to celebrate the beginning/launch of Power Women Fiesta  – a month long extravaganza at the mall starting from  27th August 2014 to 28th September’14.

Power Women Brunch at Phoenix Marketcity Kurla

Power Women Brunch at Phoenix Marketcity Kurla

This unique initiative allows women to pamper themselves silly over retail therapy, spa & beauty services, food & wine and entertainment offers from amongst the various outlets at this larger than life destination over an entire month! The lovely ladies enjoyed an array of exotic cocktails, fine foods, express spa services and even a game of bowling! The afternoon ended with guests such as Malaika Arora Khan, Amrita Arora Ladak , Alesia Raut, Candice Pinto, Aanchal Kumar, Shveta Salve, Aditi Govitrikar, Suchitra Pillai, Deepti Gujral, MissMalini leaving with their photo ids and booklets, excited to redeem their power pack of offers.

MissMalini, Manasi Scott and friends at Phoenix Marketcity Kurla

So because Phoenix Marketcity is in such a benevolent mood, I’m definitely heading for the Power Women Fiesta! Here are 7 reasons why you should be doing exactly that.

1) Ladies get to win 15 freebies!

Yep! You heard it right, from everything from the chance to watch a free movie at PVR Gold Class to a free manicure/pedicure/haircut at Enrich AND free starter at Noodle Bar can be won! Seriously, this is just the tip of the iceberg, there are 12 more prizes to be won!

2) You shall get major discounts on innumerable International brands!

Huge discounts on brands like Hamleys, Kenneth Cole, Aldo, The Body Shop, Charles and Keith, Only and many many more!

3) Two lucky ladies along with their families will get the opportunity to pick any place across India for a family vacation!

Life can be good sometimes!

4) Munisha Khatwani will be holding a tarot reading session!

Munisha Khatwani at Phoenix Marketcity Kurla

On September 13th, take a sneak peek into your future, and personally interact with Munisha Khatwani who will guide you to prosperity and happiness! It will be mystical and magical!

5) Sandip Soparkar will make you dance!

Sandip Soparkar, Hasleen Kaur and Shiv Darshan

 You can attend Sandip Soparkar’s Salsa workshop on 20^th September! Running around to shop and learning salsa, this is called the perfect cardio am I right ladies?

6) You can attend Playtronix: A supercool EDM fest on 21^st September!

Playtronix

Hosted by Nisha Harale this show will be headlined by international EDM sensation AD BROWN along with DJ Clement, DJ M1h1r, Dj Neha Tolani, DJ Inda J, DJ Sid and DJ Mel! The visual jockey for the night will be VJ Tarang. Tickets for the same are also available on bookmyshow.com!

7) You CAN WIN A TRIP TO DUBAI FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!

Phoenix Market City Kurla

Yess! One lucky lady along with her family will get a chance to win a trip to Dubai! You shop to win here so that you win to shop there!

Too lazy to head there without a surety that you’ll definitely win? Don’t worry! MissMalini will be giving away exclusive shopping vouchers to some lucky readers for the Power Women Fiesta! So keep an eye on the contests!

For more updates, follow Phoenix Marketcity Kurla on Facebook and Twitter. 

Posted on MissMalini

MissMalini’s World, Episode 1

It’s finally happening!!! Team MissMalini has a TV show on India’s #1 Lifestyle Channel – TLC! Now I know we get a lot of love from all around the world (where you may not be getting this channel) so we’ve got all the episodes going up online just for your viewing pleasure :) please spread the word, you know we love you! xoxo

IN THIS EPISODE:

I dropped in to chat with Nargis Fakhri (in somebody’s bedroom!). Akshai Sarin gave us a listen to his secret project While You Were Sleeping and we checked out (and worked out of) Riyaaz Amlani’s new restobar Social. Alia Bhatt posed up a storm at her Maybelline shoot and answered all YOUR Twitter questions while Team MissMalini jetted off to Bangalore Fashion Week and got BBlunt makeovers! The Pocket Stylist had a pyjama party while Nowshad and Bombay Bhukkad CHOMPED down at Woodside Inn. Enjoy :)

I hope you liked our very first episode and will keep tuning in every week! Please leave me a comment below and let us know what you thought and who else you’d like to see on your TV :) xoxo

Watch MissMalini’s World on TLC India, Friday night at 7:30pm, with repeats on Saturday 5:00pm and Wednesday 3:00pm!

Posted on MissMalini