Bring it on, 2014!

I’ve heard everyone say New Year Resolutions don’t last long. Since I'm making these resolutions for the first time, so I thought I'll put them up on my blog and share it on all social networks. Why? Because if I don’t live up to this, my friends can mock me publicly :P

• Learn a new art/language
• Travel ~ Explore at least SIX new places (Die if you fail to do this!)
• Cook more often (twice a week doesn’t mean “often”)
• Host a party
• Read more ~ Devour as many books as possible (Read more than you buy, you shopaholic ass!)
• Maintain a journal
• Make another scrapbook
• Write more often ~ Scribbling is also counted~ Personal emails, letters, poetry, postcards
• Donate
• Quit your job if it turns you into a cribber
• Talk to maa EVERYDAY
• Start saving, bitch!

From Forever We Start

Wishes denied

Dreams were locked away

The heart was numb and how!

I loved him then

I love him now

And back to me

He made his way

Surrendered his soul

And made that vow

A love promise for each day

Love doesn’t alter

No, it doesn’t fade

‘Cause he’s the one for whom I was made

Words, silences and a lifetime to share

For all our yesterdays, tomorrows and today

Bitter sweet moments fill my heart

This time, from forever we start

The Lunchbox - A dose of awesomeness

The tagline of The Lunchbox asks - Can you fall in love with someone you haven’t met?

The answer is an emphatic yes! The movie not only tells us the story of this epistolary romantic relationship but also makes us part of these people's lives. Nuanced performances, a love that is extraordinary in its most ordinary form, this Lunchbox satiates us with the delectable dish of human emotions of loneliness, nostalgia, love and hope!

Replete with eloquent silences, it speaks louder than any melodramatic movie and its characters reach out to us in more ways than one. The movie's protagonists are ordinary people and their mundane lives. Repetition, routine, monotony, loneliness, disillusionment and nostalgia are pivotal and persistent. The characters get etched with such intricacy in our hearts that we can relate to their simple day to lives and struggles. The introvert Saajan, played by Irrfan Khan is awe inspiring. The depths of emotion that this man can make one feel are beyond expression. He’s mostly quiet and particular at work. An old man about to retire, coming to terms with his lonely life. A loner. It is only when he interacts with Ila (Nimrat Kaur) that we get a sneak peek of the different dimensions of his character – a man with inner conflicts. Nostalgia gets the better of him as he misses his dead wife, recalling the days when he would stand outside smoking, looking at his wife through the window while she laughed watching ‘Ye Jo Hai Zindagi’ on television. We too are hit by nostalgia as we get glimpses of the old world charm through letters (sigh), old TV series on DVD, songs played on Auntie’s cassettes, present throughout the movie.

In stark contrast to the introvert Saajan is his junior Sheikh (brought to life by the awesome Nawazuddin Siddiqui). His intruding ways and annoying presence in Saajan’s life is frustrating initially. Gradually, as his character unfolds, he turns into the most endearing character in the movie. His relationship with Mehrunissa - his girlfriend (later wife) is beautiful. I loved the part when Saajan asks him for how long have they been married and he answers nonchalantly with an innocence only natural to people who can love with all their heart, saying that sometimes it seems it’s been 25-35 years of togetherness, while at other times, it seems like they just met yesterday. Sheikh might appear cheesy to some, but all I saw was a man dripping of honesty and affection. It’s natural for an orphan who paved his way out in the big bad world to long for the love of a guardian or a mentor he can refer to as family. The friendship that the two men develop later is achingly beautiful. Words don't suffice when I think of the sequence when Saajan is sitting in a taxi, about to leave from Sheikh's wedding (and later for Nashik). You can only know what I'm talking about if you've seen the movie.

Ila, the young housewife who’s trying hard to revive her marriage by taking extra effort to cook delicious lunches for her husband with the help of her neighbour auntie. We never get to see auntie. We only hear the lovely distinct voice of Bharti Achrekar who helps Ila with cooking as well as relationship tips. Ila is troubled and disillusioned but still full of hope. She wants to live in Bhutan as the country seems as a promise of happiness (because her daughter was taught at school that Bhutan had something called Gross Domestic Happiness instead of GDP). She finds a confidante in Saajan, a friend to share her agony, a person who understands loneliness, whose words comfort her when there’s nothing left in her life to look forward to.

The movie showcases Mumbai in a very significant way. The daily life of a city dweller, the struggles, the aspirations, locals, dabbawallas, middle class families – these are all aspects that bring the movie to life in very subtle ways.

What I loved the most about The Lunchbox was the end. Unexpected. Abrupt. One is left craving for more and smiling with a sense of wonder. Ritesh Batra’s debut is a heartwarming experience and certainly one of the best movies this year.

Ship of Theseus

There are some movies that compel us to think, while there are others which makes us emotionally involved and attached. Ship of Theseus does both - in the most effortless and poignant manner possible. Anand Gandhi presents us with the most appealing blend of artistic cinematography, intelligent dialogues, captivating music and gripping stories. For me, watching the movie was an emotional as well as intellectual experience.

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Having won international acclaim, the movie is a fine testament of intelligent Indian cinema. The most incredible aspect of the film is the sheer ease with which the characters are built and the stories told. Simple, direct and moving! The film’s title and theme draws its premise from the ancient Greek paradox that asks if every part of a ship is changed over time, whether the ship would remain the same? And if the replaced parts are used to make a new ship, will that be the original ship?

The movie talks of profound philosophies, of life and death, of ideologies and beliefs. But never does the movie try to preach or be sanctimonious. The film follows the lives of three very different people. As blind photographer, who struggles with her photography and art after gaining her eyesight back, Aida Elkashef is so convincing in her character that one can feel her restlessness. We feel for her, empathise with her but not once do we feel sorry  for her and that’s the victory of her character.

The second story revolves around a monk suffering from liver cirrhosis who is fighting for animal rights. Neeraj Kabi plays this role so deftly that he evokes thoughts and questions of morality in our minds while we watch him deny taking medication because of his ideologies and beliefs. His deteriorating condition doesn’t come in way of his will power and he stands by his convictions even when his ailing body is giving up. The thought provoking conversations with his young protégé are very entertaining and amusing. The simplicity of his ideas makes us wonder. The monk is assertive yet he never preaches his ideas. The sect he belongs to is a fictitious one (created for the film so as to avoid any kind of political or religious issues) and it is intrinsically designed to appeal to our reason than to sentiment.

The third story is of a money minded stockbroker who believes being motivated to earn money doesn’t make one a lesser mortal. All one needs in life is respect and a little compassion for people around. His unusual journey to a foreign land just to get justice for a fellow human being makes us discover a hero in the common man. He isn’t successful in his motives but he tries his best. That’s the whole point of a life, as his activist and driven grand mom tells him, “This is as good as it gets.” The stockbroker’s character is a complex in a very endearing way. His idea of living is simple and he has no high morals or a sense of duty towards society, unlike his grandmother. However, he does have the moral fabric of a compassionate human being which makes us bow down to him.

All these characters are so real that they seem surreal, filling us with a sense of respect and love for them. They are all cleverly united in the end, with a climax that we never see coming as we’re too engrossed in the narrative. But when we ponder, it was quite an obvious and perfect ending with all these three lives intertwined. Taking all of us along in a voyage, the director explores the ideas of identity, justice, morals, life and death. Ship of Theseus certainly strikes a chord in our heart with its beautiful imagery. A film that stirs the soul and incites us to reflect upon our lives. A film not to be missed!

Note: This review was first published in India Opines.
Link: http://indiaopines.com/ship-of-theseus-review/

Little reminiscences

Of my favourite yellows and polka dots

Of long walks and finger knots

Of rains and evening mist

Of those sensuous eyes and lips that kissed

Of shared coffees and glasses of wine

Of you and me and of souls entwined

Of holding hands and endless chats

Of warm hugs and laps

Of breezy nights and silent shores

Of throbbing beats and emotions galore

Of letting go and holding on

Of sunny days and breaking dawn

Of happy tears and and all things nice

I see us when I close my eyes...

Those fleeting visions

Remember when…

We talked about the formation of sea mist, just moments before the rain

Followed the moonlight and clouds playing and casting shadows over the terrain.

We looked at those wavy white lines on the shore…perplexed for minutes,

Only to discover we have been looking at fishermen’s net.

Watched those flickering lights and wondered about its origin,

Sitting silently staring at the horizon.

Felt the breeze; cold on the bare parts of the skin and gently brushing the hair.

Gazed directly into those eyes, with the same intensity

With which they looked back at me.

Never did we know how it was meant to be

Yet we treaded, celebrating moments and discovering each other on our way...

Kshay

Kshay made its way to me yesterday through Facebook. I read a bit about it online and had an instant urge to watch it. So today, I was at PVR Phoenix, watching it. It’s the first movie that I watched alone. I did not want to miss out something just because of lack of company. And I discovered two things: first, I was right…one can’t afford to miss such a movie and second, I quite enjoy my company (ok yeah I’m a narcissist, and a proud one!)

Kshay is the story of obsession transforming into insanity. The transformation is so deftly incorporated that there isn’t a time when the character of Chhaya doesn’t engage you. Her mind embarks on dream voyages which will take you along and haunt you with the daunting images. The loving moments between the protagonists are so brilliantly juxtaposed with the agitated times. The simplicity will make you smile. The agitation will stir you up. There are times when Chhaya will annoy you and at other times, she will gain your empathy. You might as well feel sorry for Arvind. That’s proof enough that the characters have achieved what they intended to.

The film is shot in black and white, which certainly enhances the grim mood of the story. There’s an overwhelming presence of Chhaya’s object of desire and obsession; Lakshmi, in one form or the other is an integral part of most sequences. The music is one of the best elements in the film. It takes the experience to a whole new level.

Kshay will engage you, involve you, disturb you and fill you with a sense of foreboding. Congratulations Karan Gour and the whole team of Kshay for such a remarkable piece of art.

PS: Being a cine lover, it makes me sad to see Rowdy Rathore shows go houseful and movies like this can’t even stay for a week in the theatres! And, we complain and crib about Bollywood standards going down! What a pity! There's no dearth of fine cinema. We need to reach out for such art and make sure such movies don't get corroded and die in the garb of "art" films.

Living a Dream

Dedicated to the two most wonderful people in my life...

"No matter what the end is, my life began with you"

Not everyone is as blessed as me. I consider myself one of the luckiest persons on earth. I for one, always believed in following dreams and listening to my heart. Not because I was born with the innate ability to understand what it is to follow your heart and what pleasure it is to chase one's dreams! It came to me because I was born to such amazing people...who did not just teach me how to live but let me choose how to live. They did not show me where to go but, were always there as a guiding light whenever I found myself lost! Saying that I love them or admire them or adore them; just isn't enough. No matter how good a writer one is, sometimes words don't suffice!

You must be wondering what made me feel such things all of a sudden! That's because I'm just soooo happy and contented with everything that life has given me so far. I'm living my dream. It is through consolidated prayers and wishes that today, I'm basking in the glory of this moment. The realisation that I'm now doing something that I always wanted fills me with immense joy and gratefulness. Journalism, writing, Bombay; these were all a part of my dream... There's still a long way to go! My dreams nurture in your faith. Keep that trust in me forever and I shall always make you proud at every step of my life. Sunshine comes in all beautiful forms. For me, it is that glitter in your eyes, which gets instantly reflected in my smile :)

Thanks for letting me soar high. Thanks for believing in me. Thanks for all those moments when you let me learn the nuances of life. Thanks for all the affection you shower on me.

A lot like Love

Like storming shadows
On a moonlit night
Like the magic of a mischief bite
Like the vibrant rainbow sky
Love, and its alluring heights!
Bid adieu to that flickering light...
Over the glittering sand of the seashore
I walk in deafening silence
And pretend to hear you no more...

She

Confident but arrogant, that’s what I felt about her the first time I saw Sonia Rachel. She came across to me as a person who has an air about herself. But it didn’t take us long to become friends once we started interacting in class and discovered we shared common opinions.

Sonia: One of the most fun persons I have ever met!

She wouldn’t take crap from anybody whatsoever, would abuse at the drop of a hat, would always come up with dirty jokes,would play the bully and make fun of everyone. Yet there was an honesty about her that drew everyone to her. Vibrant, loud,  crazy and so full of life! Quite moody or rather eccentric at times, it has always been fun to be around her. As the elected Class Representative, Sonia was responsible and accountable. Ask the juniors how they feared her during our Film viewing sessions in class! She was a favourite to most of the teachers. As for her classmates, we knew well that wild and notorious girl who loved to laugh her heart out. Fair and pretty, her curly tresses giving a perfect look to her round face. That glow in her little brown eyes and that contagious sheepish smile after a stupid or offensive joke is a 'Sonia trademark'.

From terrible relationships to troubles in college or family issues, despite everything that may go wrong, I admire her for taking it into stride and never being afraid of being herself. That takes a lot of courage.

Hey Sonia! This is to let you know that I love being around you and cherish our friendship. Glad that we met :)