Billions of blue blistering barnacles...

Phew.... that's my state of mind today. 

There has been just too much work off late. Though I completely love my work and my responsibilities, today is one 'billions of blue blistering barnacles' day! Have been working like a zombie non-stop for some 10 hours at a stretch :p. Break, break... need a break!

This definitely does not qualify as a blog post... but still felt like scribbling :)

Friend today.. gone tomorrow?

In our day-to-day life, we meet so many people! Some perfect strangers, who stay that way all our lives and that doesn't affect us a wee bit. Some come into our lives and welcome us into theirs and a new bond is born. Simple friendships, naughty friendships, twisted friendships, dramatic friendships, formal friendships, soul-mate friendships, sibling friendships.. the list is endless.

I had read somewhere few years back that some people come into your life for a season, some for a reason, and some.. to stay with you forever. It is those 'never-ending' bonds that are effortless, bring you the most happiness and cause you endless pain at the same time. You have the best of times and the worst of fights with this lot.

But sometimes, the fights grow serious and the friendship is over before you know. Perhaps the friend came into your life for a reason. They left, without a goodbye.

Often we think, this happens only in love relationships. But what is in love, if their is no friendship there? Even if friends fall apart, they don't stop loving each other even after the worst of 'unfriendly exchanges'.

I believe that we take time to make friends. There can be many acquaintances, but it takes time before you call someone a friend. And so, if a 'frienship' gets dissolved all of a sudden, you would need time to 'let it go'.

It may seem strange, but at times, even years after you think you have forgotten a friend/buried a friendship-- your thoughts keep floating to that person every now and then. And most amazingly, while doing the most mundane of things in life-- taking a walk, sipping coffee, working on the computer, eating your favorite dish, visiting a particular place, listening to a song, reading a book, laughing over a joke.... I can go on and on.

You feel a smile extendig on your lips unawares.. and at times you may end up laughing too, all by yourself, reminiscing a moment. At other times, the smile is interrupted by a careless tear that manages to duck the oblivious you and speedily trickles down your cheek right down to kiss your extended smile. You close your eyes and smile again :).

Only a friend you have loved deeply and a friendship you savour long after it is no more can give you this feeling.

Similarly, when you lose someone dear to you unexpectedly to God, you have this whole range of emotions.. bottled. They build up.. and suddenly one fine day when, may be, you are munching a chocolate at lesisure, it hits you! No connection, no association-- but you suddenly want to share the chocolate with your dad, who could probably nibble only a small piece because of his diabetes. But you still want him to take a bite at that time and there is an unprecedented arrival of complex emotions, resulting in --well, tears. That is perhaps the worst kind of feeling. You can only seek solace thinking of the fact they your loved one is resting in peace with God.


Losing a friend over a fight, ego clash or misunderstandings often leaves us 'blank'. No matter how much you cry, it doesn't come back to you. That doesn't mean, it was never yours. It always belonged to you-- the friendship was always yours.

Just that the friend was not for keeps.

Cheers to Friendship!

Film Review: Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

 

What an awesome weekend this has been!! This is the second time in two consecutive years that a Hrithik movie and a Harry Potter flick released on the same day! Last year it was Guzaarish and ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I’ and this year it’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II’.

I can go on and on with the incredible HP movie, but for now, let me just stick to Hrithik and his fabulous team.


Live every moment of your life… that is the motto of this fun-filled, hilarious, and thoroughly enjoyable movie on friendship, love, and life.

Three buddies—Kabir (Abhay), Arjun (Hrithik), and Imran (Farhan) travel to Spain, to explore the picturesque locales and celebrate their love for adventure sports. Through their story, we relive our moments of joy and laughter spent with friends who matter.

The characterization could not have been better. Full marks to Zoya Akhtar for making each reel-life character real and narrating our stories through theirs. The best part of the movie is that it tells us no matter how hard we work, or how successful we become, there is a child in us that wants to play. And life happens during this playtime. So, the next time you think of postponing a holiday because of ‘work’ or ‘boss’, think again!

The individual traits of the three main characters have been portrayed with a subtle flamboyance. Arjun the trader is a perfectionist; Kabir the millionaire entrepreneur is the typical desirable ‘husband material’; Imran is the quick-witted copywriter who sets the screen on fire with his wisecracks! There’s a scene where all 3 friends (in their respective cities) are packing their bags to fly to Spain to celebrate Kabir’s last bachelor holiday! Arjun, packs his bags meticulously—carefully checking that clothes are neatly ironed, Kabir, is least bothered about the packing, while Imran simply bundles up anything and everything in his suitcase! Kabir travels first class, Arjun business class and Imran ‘cattle class’ or economy, like most of us. The detailing by the Director is absolutely brilliant!

There are so many moments in the movie that will make you laugh and laugh and well, laugh! And it is not slapstick! The humor is quick-witted and sharp. Playing pranks like schoolboys, or relating the ‘Doordarshan’ theme song with depression, or the ‘ring n proposal’ episode between Kabir and his fiancé Natasha (Kalki) will make you laugh your heart out! Not to forget the most popular ‘ladies handbag in Bollywood yet—‘BAGwati’.

While Hrithik Roshan will definitely make your heart skip multiple beats with his Greek-God looks and natural acting, you cannot help love Farhan Akhtar for his wit, charm, and sensitivity. Abhay Deol on the other hand scores on acting, screen-presence and a no-nonsense attitude.

About the female leads: Katrina (Laila) is like a breath of fresh air—she looks stunning and does justice to her character. Kalki is awesome and with her powerful acting and I am convinced that she is definitely a heroine to watch out for in the coming years.

Deepti Naval and Nasiruddin Shah add flavor to the movie with their cameos.

The music of the movie is feel-good. I loved the picturisation of the song ‘Senorita’. The rendition of the song by the 3 male leads makes it special and unique!

The exotic locations, the long-drives, the lush meadows, the freshness of deep blue sea—the movie is a must watch for nature lovers! I have always been apprehensive about water sports, but after watching ZNMD, I have decided to go deep-sea diving at least once in my life, whenever that is!

The romantic close-ups between Katrina-Hrithik, arguably the most beautiful screen pair in Bollywood today is portrayed with finesse and depth. Their on-screen chemistry is awesome and I wonder why they have waited so long to do a movie together!

Moments create magic. The movie has many magical moments. So, even though there is no real ‘climax’ in this movie, you will love it! While I would still rate ‘Dil Chahta Hain’ higher than ZNMD, watch this movie if you are a believer in the institution of friendship. Even the worst of fights or altercations do not destroy true friendships. A true friend will never threaten to harm you or humiliate you--no matter how bad a misunderstanding you may have had! This movie is a wonderful example of that.

I loved the movie so much that I was compelled to write a review J. This is a must-watch film and highly recommended. Cheers to Friendship!

In conclusion, I would just say—So the peoples…get the readies to the watch the fun that the buouys have in the ZNMD J.

Hatred

The human mind is more complicated than we can imagine. And human emotions, often convoluted and on tenderhooks.

I realized recently that just as love is important in your life, you also need to experience hatred in some form or the other. It makes you stronger.

When people love you, you feel happy and love them back. They make you smile, laugh, and feel good about yourself. You can in turn, love them back and add more meaning to their lives.

On the contrary, when someone hates you, you may not always be able to reciprocate that feeling. They avoid you, make you cry, and treat you miserably. You feel worse if these are people you value or look up to! But you cannot really do much here.

As Paulo Coelho writes, "If you feel like a victim, you will be treated like one". So, accept the fact that yes, there are people in the world who hate you. If they are happy hating you, let them be!

Love is often portayed as a shield of the weak and hatred--the weapon of the strong! People will always tell you to work on your weakness but nobody questions your strength. Love feeds on hope, whereas hatred laughs at vulnerability.

If you can embrace hatred, or at least take it in your stride, life will be far more peaceful.

Man(un)kind and Nature

Earlier this month, when I returned home from office one day, I was surprised to see a big truck at the entrance of my building. They were stocking up remnants of trees--loads of it and I was wondering if there was a storm or heavy downpour in Mumbai that I missed!

Unlikely, as I love the rains.

A tad suprised and  miffed,  I came up to my floor. After making myself a nice cup of tea, I went to the balcony. The balcony is my favorite place at home and I can spend hours there merely gazing at flowers, admiring the greenery, or imitating the twitter of birds. I especially love to see squirrels and their rapid pace up and down the biggest Gulmohar tree outside my balcony. The richness of the two other Gulmohar trees on either sides of this main epitome of pride, make the view even more beautiful. At a time when greenery is slowly disappearing from our urban lives, I feel blessed to enjoy the fresh air and the soothing colours of the leaves and flowers that help me relax after a tiring day at work. They bring a smile to my face, even when I am sad.

So, where was I? Yes, I went to the balcony for my usual visual treat. But I was in for a SHOCK! The branches of the beautiful tree that tease the grills of my balcony with their ever-lively leaves were missing! The Gulmohar trees seemed to have receded a few yard-steps back from my home. And the lovely tamarind tree looked dwarfed! That's when I realized that these trees had been brutally slaughtered to keep them from coming near the surrounding houses. But it is not as if a wandering branch or two had been cut or some method applied in cleaning up the locality. I gathered that people in the locality had hired some daily-wage laborers to finish off a 'quick n dirty job'. Not that forest authorities were intimated or professionals called to trim the trees!! It was a merciless plunder of the beautiful ambience.

I cannot explain in words what I felt after seeing the trees in such condition. It reminded me of what I learned in school on 'felling of trees'. I even had to sketch something on this subject during my 'drawing class' in Class V. And I felt very bad to draw the picture of a tree being cut.

If you love nature and animals, you surely understand how it feels to see such obnoxious treatment meted out to harmless gifts of God.

I asked some of my building authorities later as to why this had been done! They were very clear in response. They said, the trees had been growing and during the monsoons it would be a crazy situation if they were not cut. I asked as to why the area was not cleaned up and branches trimmed, why the rampant onslaught! Few people stared at me in surprise as if I had asked them for directions to reach Timbaktoo!! One aged gentleman politely replied, "Yes, it is sad", and walked away.

Some others said, that a monkey had become a frequent visitor to the neighborhood, due to the greenery and the shelter provided by the trees. So, to get rid of the monkey, they killed 4 trees!!

The main tree is now without its arms.. the gulmohar trees with their vibrant oranges and fiery red are far away from my balcony. I can see them, but cannot touch the leaves, no matter how much I stretch my hand outside the grills

There was a great uproar among the birds with most of them flying aghast after this tree tragedy hit. Why? Because their nests had been destroyed just before the monsoons. A crow had been feeding its red-mouthed little one and I had been hapily savouring the scene for days. I couldnt find them anymore. The squirrels had disappeared too.

The next morning when I went to the balcony, I felt even worse. Each dawn, a koel used to sit on the branches and sing in its melodious voice. And there would be parrots sitting in a row in one of the branches higher up and swinging peacefully. None of them were there anymore.

It is sad that we humans encroach upon the land of the wild, because we cannot control our own population. We drive them out of their homes and don't even feel bad about it! We talk about plantations and a green planet, but when it comes to maintaining it in our own life, we never practice it.

It is almost a fortnight now since the trees were cut. The rains have brought a new freshness in Mumbai and the view outside my balcony has started getting better again! I can see gulmohar trees, mussaenda, banyan, tamarind, some rubber plants and many more trees and plants whose name I do not know. The rain makes the view even more picturesque. The leaves have started growing on the injured trees. Though the branches will not grow back again due to the haphazard way in which they have been cut, the trees have started looking fuller again. The koel and other birds are back too.. though the distance between my balcony and them is far more than before.

I pray to God that it stays like this now. And I hope going forward, I am able to protest more vehemently about a cause that is close to my heart.

Simple Joys of Life

Simple joys of life are to be cherished, enjoyed, and treasured. Often in simple joys, we find a deeper meaning--a purpose in life. Some of us pick up the pen and start writing impromptu, some like to use a paintbrush... still others may resort to a few clicks to fulfill their passion. Then there are others who like singing or shaking a leg. Again, there are others who find solace in social service. The list is endless.

At any point in life, when we find ourselves at crossroads, the best way to start afresh is to get closer to your inner self and take a step towards the dream you always wanted to realize.

Writing, for example, is such a stress-buster. And I know people who write so well that they can give any professional writer a run for their money. But in the hustle-bustle and other complexities of life, these passions get subdued, suppressed, and sometimes even die.

Don't let that happen to yourself, I remind myself and others who are dear to me. Just go, write, publish that book you have been wanting to. There cannot be greater satisfaction than that. Don't procrastinate and don't let the mundane hullabaloo get in between you and your dreams.

You deserve the best. So, go, get it :)

Twinge

Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down!

Whoever said that, said that well.

Life would be simpler if pain pretended to be happiness for a change and subsided as fast as it grew. It is always happiness that ends abruptly, never pain. It lingers, it grows, it feeds on whatever sanity is left in the mind, and never has any plans to leave. Pain is almost like money plant-- you just need to get one branch of it, plant it in a flower pot, and leave it by the window. It will get creepy and multiply in no time filling the entire free space on your window sil. Just the way pain grips your heart, your mind, and then your entire being.

Simple joys of life. Similarly simple pains of life. Life would be much more livable that way.

Abstract thoughts + convoluted feelings = Rubik's Cube. Keep at it till you figure out a way to solve it.

But, whatever the pain, it can never outwit happiness. May god bless and keep showering happiness on all those we care for. That's all that matters.

Solitude of Protected Wilderness

Who treads there?

Who ventures down the forbidden bridle-path

winding thro' thickets in the dense backwoods?

Time and again, memories traverse--

(Mind) reminisces Oak-Cedar-Rhododendron

At times, the fiery red flames of Sal-Simul-Palash

flashing in the lush woodland yellow and green.

And peeps through mangrove forests Kend and Garan

standing high on briny water and mud,

Or, ambles down the beach dunes, gazing at Jhau-Cashew-Casuarina

and Prospis Juliflora in desert sand

thorny bushes, fallen leaves here and there

wild grass-flower dandelion.

The dabbling mind meanders again--

Recalls the ivory spring-water rustling

on the pebbles-gravels-rockbed now and then.

Who thou explore?

Proceed no more; ruffle not the memoirs

Let the mahua-sozzled mindset remain ever

In tranquil solitude of protected wilderness. 

(My translated poem published in the book titled: World Poetry Festival 2011.

Translated from the original in Bangla written by Rathin Ghosh.)



Silent Confessions

 

I hold on to you, eyes closed, as we fly high,

You don't tilt towards me, nor pull me closer to you

But that is not important

As long as I know, you want me to hold on to you.

I face a stumble; I fall, I cry,

You don't console me or try to make things better

But that is not important

As long as I know, you want to me to come out stronger.

I send you notes and messages,

You read them alright, but do not respond

But that is not important

As long as I know, somewhere...we share a bond.

I look into your eyes

But I do not see myself in them anymore

It hurts a wee bit, but that is not important

As long as I know, by your side, you have some other strong oar.

I have my own bindings

And you may have yours going strong,

But that is not important

As long as I know, my commitment to this emotion is lifelong.

Love Lasts Forever

I was pretty enamored by Shah Rukh Khan when he gave his funda on love at 'Coffee With Karan' a couple of weeks back. What he said in Hindi translates into something like this: 'If there is love, you don't need to say it; And if there is a need to say it, there is no love'.

That is some confidence, I say!

"Love is a moment that grows into a lifetime of joy". I had read this quote years ago and it lingers in my mind even today. It may sound cliched, but love actually makes the world go round. When we find love, we realize how beautiful life is. And when someone dwells on our mind for a little too long, it is a 'love-ly' feeling.

I feel the 'silver screen' plays a vital role in shaping the way we perceive and interprete love. We don't follow love stories in movies verbatim. But in some funny way or the other, we tend to draw similarities in our real life from a character in reel-life. At times, movies inspire and even influence the love in our lives.

I have been quite moved by woman protagonists in several love stories as depicted in movies. I am not a great follower of English movies, but have enjoyed the few that I have watched. And when it comes to Bollywood, I never ceaze to get amazed by the portrayals on screen.

Based on movies watched recently or in the recent past, the following are my top 5 protagonists in the realm of interpretation of love. These screen portrayals have left an indelible impression on my mind, in terms of characterisation and the treatment of love in the narration.

1. Sofia in Guzaarish
This is my current favorite. Aishwarya Rai beautifully enacts her part as Sofia and brings the character alive. Her portrayal of love that is restrained, yet knows no boundaries is commendable. Sofia speaks through her eyes and her main motto in life is to ensure the person she is in love with is happy. Regardless of her marital status or her economic condition, she loves. There may not be any hope, but she still loves with all her heart. She defies society, disregards destiny and stays with her beau for as long as she can. But never from her behavior or her attitude towards Ethan does she drop any hints of her fondness for him. This love is the toughest but has immense depth.

The strength of her character and her relentless passion to ensure the person she loves is happy--- that makes Sofia a winner.

2. Jamie Sullivan in A Walk to Remember
I still don't know whether I like the movie more or the book. Jamie (Mandy Moore) is a religious young school girl. She is a plain Jane and likes to see the whole world happy around her. When Jamie finds love, she accepts it as just another happening in her life. For Jamie, love is when you care for the other person. So, when her beau Landon apologizes to her for being rude and asks what he can do to make up, she innocently asks him to help her collect funds for her charity. I would like to believe that love is spontaneous and you know when Cupid strikes. But this movie gives a different perspective. Often we spend so much time with somebody that we don't realize when we start loving them. Jamie and Landon had been with each other as acquaintances who met every day. They never felt the love that always existed. And when Jamie discovers her physical ailment, she doesn't say a word to her lover. This movie is such a treat!

Jamie's undying love and her whole-hearted faith in God and miracles make this movie/book special.

3.  Aisha in Wake Up Sid
This movie experiments with love in an unconventional way and that it what appeals to me most. It is Sid's story all through. But Aisha's love for Sid makes the movie so much more delightful. Aisha (Konkona Sen Sharma) aspires to be a writer and meets Sid, who is confused about making his mark in life. By being with Aisha, in an oblivious way, Sid wants to do things to make himself look important in her life. Aisha doesn't really pay attention to the much-younger Sid, probably because they meet every day. As they say, "Love does not know its depth until the last hour of separation'--- Aisha realizes she loves Sid when he is away from her. Her love is puerile but she doesn't know if she can even tell him as they were friends. Through an article in her magazine, Aisha reveals her feelings for Sid, never expecting anything in return.

Aisha's conviction, her love for Sid and how she rediscovers herself after realizing love-- make this movie meaningful.

4. Sara Thomas in Serendipity

This movie has been a personal favorite for as long as I can remember. I saw it first in 2003 and fell in love with it. The movie starts with a chance encounter. Sara Thomas (Kate Beckinsale) is a firm believer in destiny. When she meets Jonathan (John Cusack), they take an immense liking to each other. However, Sara wants fate to decide if they are meant to be together. So, when it is time for them to part ways, they don't share names or numbers. In a unique way, they write the details down in a book and a dollar note. Sara contends, if they are meant to meet some day, they will find each other through these signs (book and dollar) and come back to each other.

Sara's character, her relentless faith in destiny and signs is the highlight of this movie. Love is so unpredictable. But if love is true and people are meant to be with each other, they find their way back.

5. Zaara Hayaat Khan in Veer Zaara
This is a classic love story across the border. Indian guy falls in love with Pakistani girl. They meet just for 2 days and then get separated by fate. No matter how hard they try to find each other, they fail every time. Zaara (Preity Zinta) belongs to a conservative Muslim household. But so much is her love for Veer, that nobody can force her against her will. She waits for 22 long years to get united with her love. Veer's sacrifices are of course amazing. But here, I will only concentrate on the woman characters. Zaara pines for her love for years and wishes him well, never for a minute giving up on her unending wait.

Zaara's character is synonymous with love. She lives for love and if she dies, it will only be for love. The depth in the narration makes this movie a phenomenon.

There are few more characters that I have admired:
Anna Scott in Notting Hill, Mallika in Pathe Holo Deri (a Bengali blockbuster), Parineeta in Parineeta. I would pick Anna (Julia Roberts) for her simplicity and 'desire to be loved', Mallika (Suchitra Sen) for her 'loyalty' and 'passion', and Parineeta (Vidya Balan) for her 'perseverance' and 'belief in true love'.

I hope movieland continues to treat us with many more such wonderful characters who in some way or the other touch our lives.