A breath of fresh air over the contemporary, stereotypical melodramas of Bollywood. I don’t like watching a movie for two and half hours, but this movie, with its silent tale and enthralling performances allowed me to sit and be lost in the 1970 setting of Darjeeling and Bengal. The second half of the movie was a bit of a drag, but I am not complaining. The songs were beautiful and Ranbir Kapoor as deaf-mute, with his Charlie Chaplin antics played the role with grace and brilliant passion and Priyanka Chopra as an autistic girl gave a laudable performance. Ileana as the Bengali bahu gave a good performance, but she took my breath away with her simplicity in the saree clad attires. For me, the fulfillment of the love between the unlikely prospects in the film, left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling. But above all, Barfi stole my heart.
Love does not always come in convenient packages, but, to what extent does one want to go, to enjoy and cherish that love? The little things are what makes the relations endearing. The day-to-day nuances and the silly laughs make the hearts warmer. The mundane chores sure impose a lot, particularly in Indian living, where guys are typically born with silver spoon (;)), but, when the guy and girl cherish each other, even that mundane chore becomes a warm memory. As we move through life, the carefree child vanishes from the face of earth. The unbridled laughter that rings so pure in the heart of a child becomes a ritualistic nuance of a grown adult. But this movie, made me see that, despite everything else that goes on, the childish laughter is essential to hold the happiness together. How often do we take time to put that smile on the ones we love? It’s a rhetorical question!
Smile is the only curve that sets a lot of things straight. It is not always easy to smile, but one can surely make an attempt to do it! Barfi made me smile and I thank Anurag Basu for that. We require more films that have a better base than the senseless formula romance. Watch it, if you have not watched it already and let it fill you with the joy of living.
Sep 18, 2012
Sep 10, 2012
US Open 2012 - Murray vs Djokovic
Djokovic fought bravely. But Murray created history. They rallied like their life depended on it and played such phenomenal tennis that it took my breath away. As records broke tonight, here in NYC, I watched and rooted for Novak Djokovic. Murray stole the crown, but Djokovic still has my heart. Was that a display of tennis? The stroke play by both the players was awesome and the rallies just blew me away. The clock kept ticking, my patience was waning, yet these guys stood there, in the middle of the court and displayed some gritty combats in the middle, challenging and pushing each other to the hilt. Just when it became one-sided, the other pushed and pushed to create an opening and pounced on the slightest chance. Its so heartening to see such quality of sport, where none would give an inch. That is why I love watching sports.
In its chaos, there is discipline that is unnerving. In its victory is a journey that is fascinating. In its heart, one can become a bard of fierce and inspiring tales, that which unite people. The sportsmen are the stalwarts, fighting for the passion they hold within, while the spectators are drawn into that pool of passion. They feel the raw energy of their heroes running through their veins, each heave and breath, a collective effort and the sigh, an exhaust of desperation. While the players battle out their own demons, the spectators watch the triumphs and defeats with as much an emotion as their sporting heroes. The victories their own and defeats their own. Such was the game today, that watching it made me realize the struggle one goes through to reach that little victory, that little inch of clarity and that little inch of peace.
Murray, at last gave Britain a grand slam champion after a few decades. Djokovic lost his battle with his inner self and played some frustrating shots and made his match all the more difficult than it needed to be. Yet, when they were playing their ground strokes, it was easy to forget who I was rooting for. Murray served with inhuman speed and in the last set, he made short work of Djokovic's strain. He persevered till the end and battled for creating history and created it in style. Take a bow Andy Murray!!
In its chaos, there is discipline that is unnerving. In its victory is a journey that is fascinating. In its heart, one can become a bard of fierce and inspiring tales, that which unite people. The sportsmen are the stalwarts, fighting for the passion they hold within, while the spectators are drawn into that pool of passion. They feel the raw energy of their heroes running through their veins, each heave and breath, a collective effort and the sigh, an exhaust of desperation. While the players battle out their own demons, the spectators watch the triumphs and defeats with as much an emotion as their sporting heroes. The victories their own and defeats their own. Such was the game today, that watching it made me realize the struggle one goes through to reach that little victory, that little inch of clarity and that little inch of peace.
Murray, at last gave Britain a grand slam champion after a few decades. Djokovic lost his battle with his inner self and played some frustrating shots and made his match all the more difficult than it needed to be. Yet, when they were playing their ground strokes, it was easy to forget who I was rooting for. Murray served with inhuman speed and in the last set, he made short work of Djokovic's strain. He persevered till the end and battled for creating history and created it in style. Take a bow Andy Murray!!
Sep 6, 2012
As light and dark
Pitch black! Black and black!
There is that glitter, shining and beckoning.
I walk towards it, closing one step in one eon,
Or so it seemed.
I see the flicker and then pop! Dark!
Silence reverberates and darkness seizes me.
I stop and thrash my hands around.
Pitch black!
And slowly, there is the slight flicker.
I set off again, into the pale white yonder.
Slippery soil, this, that which chaffed my feet,
Treading on the pebbles, hurting my feet,
I see the changing shades, the white, the grey,
And the bright yellow sparkle.
I close my eyes and see its shadow.
Walking in the shadows, I close in,
Through the trenches and stenches,
To which that called upon its shine.
I reach it and peer at it closer,
Alas, it’s just a window into the world!
I turn and look back,
the alluring dark stares back.
Hypnotizing and sensual, lustful and charming, it beckons me.
I take a step towards it.
The chilling cold stops me in my track.
I halt and look back,
The sparkling yellow pulls me, warm and welcoming,
I take a step back, into the warmth,
I continue staring into the dark.
The numb finality of the dark beckons,
The burning intensity of the light pulls,
Push and pull of a high tide and a wave,
Alas, I am in the light and I am in the dark.
My dance in the light and shadow, through every day!
My waltz as light and dark.
There is that glitter, shining and beckoning.
I walk towards it, closing one step in one eon,
Or so it seemed.
I see the flicker and then pop! Dark!
Silence reverberates and darkness seizes me.
I stop and thrash my hands around.
Pitch black!
And slowly, there is the slight flicker.
I set off again, into the pale white yonder.
Slippery soil, this, that which chaffed my feet,
Treading on the pebbles, hurting my feet,
I see the changing shades, the white, the grey,
And the bright yellow sparkle.
I close my eyes and see its shadow.
Walking in the shadows, I close in,
Through the trenches and stenches,
To which that called upon its shine.
I reach it and peer at it closer,
Alas, it’s just a window into the world!
I turn and look back,
the alluring dark stares back.
Hypnotizing and sensual, lustful and charming, it beckons me.
I take a step towards it.
The chilling cold stops me in my track.
I halt and look back,
The sparkling yellow pulls me, warm and welcoming,
I take a step back, into the warmth,
I continue staring into the dark.
The numb finality of the dark beckons,
The burning intensity of the light pulls,
Push and pull of a high tide and a wave,
Alas, I am in the light and I am in the dark.
My dance in the light and shadow, through every day!
My waltz as light and dark.
Sep 3, 2012
My premises, my world
Disclaimer: The below thoughts are not intended for any one in particular. The thoughts are what I feel one should uphold. While I am no expert in life, I do form opinions. So the below thoughts are MY opinions on what should be. They are not a biblical research, but a life study of little exposure I have through life.
*************************************************************************
I have been thinking, which everyone who read this blog would know, is a very dangerous thing. I was thinking: what would I say, if I have to form a premise for relation, we call love. Everyday, I see friends, family, strangers, all of them wrapped in love and some of them, struggle through it and some of them, just let that be. Below are what I think, I would ask myself, in a relation. I feel it is a continual process and is not done in a day or two or a year. Every day or every few days, one will have to ask themselves these questions, to know and understand what needs to be done. Like all choices, nothing ever is a walk in the park!
My first premise for love - being happy. Does it make you happy? The again, when you are getting to know a stranger, every little revelation is a bliss in the monotonous life. It is like a little drop of personal heaven, because the person let you in, to be a part of little nuances that shaped him or her. Do you make your lover happy? It is important to read beneath the words that are said. Because, most of the time, we say white lies. But the body language betrays those white lies. So, do you understand what is spoken beneath those words. Do you honestly make the person happy? Beneath all the flowery words and chocolaty hearts, is there a genuine warmth in the smiles you get? Does your heart flutter when you see the smile? Is the happiness mutual? Does it spread?
My second premise - friends. Are you both friends? Can you discuss anything under the sun without a thought about your lover's reaction? Can you share your most embarrassing secret and KNOW that you won't be judged? Can you trust your lover to know when you need silence and when you need babble? Can you share your happiness, knowing that it will be doubled because you shared? Or does it leave you unfulfilled and wanting more? Can you share your sadness, knowing that your love understands all that was unsaid and will hold you through tears? Does your love make you feel like the most important thing in life, and that anything will have to get past him or her to touch you? Can you lie on bed and prattle about sweet nothings and smile and share a laugh? Do your troubles pull you and your lover away or make you stand united and face the trouble?
My third premise - priorities in life. What is the most important thing to you, in life? Do you have a priority list? Are you willing to compromise on few of those priorities, if you go forward in that relation? What are you willing to compromise? If you are willing to compromise, why is it even important? If you are unwilling to compromise, do you think your love can support you and do what all is necessary to ensure that the things important to you are in your reach, at all times? Did you have a heart-to-heart? Are you sure your love would support you, without a semblance of doubt in your heart? Is there an inner voice harbouring its shield? Do you understand what your lover expects of you? If and when you decide to take the next step of sharing your life with your lover, do you understand what it takes to get that relation working? Yes, relation is work. It is not a 8 to 5 job and it does not pay in money. It is a 24 X 7 job and it pays in smiles, tears, despair and anger. Do you think you can handle all that and still sustain your love?
My fourth premise - identity. Are you still you? Love changes people. But there is this centre core that made us who we are - the values that made that someone notice you and cherish you. So, while you are in love and are cherishing the moments in it, are you changing as a person? Do you realize that change? Is that something that is making you happy? Do you think, you can look in a mirror, a few years from now and notice that the person in the mirror is not a husk of you, but still you?
My fifth premise - surprises. How do you handle a surprise thrown at you? How does your lover handle the surprise thrown at him or her? Be it a surprise birthday party or a surprise of life altering events? Can you roll with it? Because, one can never prepare enough for life. It has its way of throwing you off balance and sometimes, that off balance can be nasty truths.
My last premise - miles. Have you seen enough miles of life to formulate your life's ideals? Do you have experience to pick the reins of your life and move through the miles alone, if need be? Yes, it is important to KNOW that you can live life without that seemingly important person in life. Sometimes, you just have to accept that, despite everything, two people can never be compatible enough to smooth all the rough rides of life. But, when you share a bumpy ride with your love, some times, even the best days seem a distant memory. When that happens, can you pick your life and not look back and realize, OUCH, I have been a happy fool!
I do realize, that there is a lot of YOU in the above statements. I personally think that, you are YOU, be it in a relation or alone. Love should be an extension of you. Something that can embrace you in its warmth on a chilly day or walk along side you on a beautiful sunny day or be an umbrella on a rainy day. It should make you feel special. Because, if you are not you, then you are not you. I do not know, how else to put it. Changes are inevitable, as each experience today, shapes our tomorrow. But, being in love, should make that process enriching and easier. Since, for every aspect of life, there are two filters, one you and other, your lover. If it gets tough, it should still be enriching. Else, it is time to think of all the premises and make a choice.
*************************************************************************
I have been thinking, which everyone who read this blog would know, is a very dangerous thing. I was thinking: what would I say, if I have to form a premise for relation, we call love. Everyday, I see friends, family, strangers, all of them wrapped in love and some of them, struggle through it and some of them, just let that be. Below are what I think, I would ask myself, in a relation. I feel it is a continual process and is not done in a day or two or a year. Every day or every few days, one will have to ask themselves these questions, to know and understand what needs to be done. Like all choices, nothing ever is a walk in the park!
My first premise for love - being happy. Does it make you happy? The again, when you are getting to know a stranger, every little revelation is a bliss in the monotonous life. It is like a little drop of personal heaven, because the person let you in, to be a part of little nuances that shaped him or her. Do you make your lover happy? It is important to read beneath the words that are said. Because, most of the time, we say white lies. But the body language betrays those white lies. So, do you understand what is spoken beneath those words. Do you honestly make the person happy? Beneath all the flowery words and chocolaty hearts, is there a genuine warmth in the smiles you get? Does your heart flutter when you see the smile? Is the happiness mutual? Does it spread?
My second premise - friends. Are you both friends? Can you discuss anything under the sun without a thought about your lover's reaction? Can you share your most embarrassing secret and KNOW that you won't be judged? Can you trust your lover to know when you need silence and when you need babble? Can you share your happiness, knowing that it will be doubled because you shared? Or does it leave you unfulfilled and wanting more? Can you share your sadness, knowing that your love understands all that was unsaid and will hold you through tears? Does your love make you feel like the most important thing in life, and that anything will have to get past him or her to touch you? Can you lie on bed and prattle about sweet nothings and smile and share a laugh? Do your troubles pull you and your lover away or make you stand united and face the trouble?
My third premise - priorities in life. What is the most important thing to you, in life? Do you have a priority list? Are you willing to compromise on few of those priorities, if you go forward in that relation? What are you willing to compromise? If you are willing to compromise, why is it even important? If you are unwilling to compromise, do you think your love can support you and do what all is necessary to ensure that the things important to you are in your reach, at all times? Did you have a heart-to-heart? Are you sure your love would support you, without a semblance of doubt in your heart? Is there an inner voice harbouring its shield? Do you understand what your lover expects of you? If and when you decide to take the next step of sharing your life with your lover, do you understand what it takes to get that relation working? Yes, relation is work. It is not a 8 to 5 job and it does not pay in money. It is a 24 X 7 job and it pays in smiles, tears, despair and anger. Do you think you can handle all that and still sustain your love?
My fourth premise - identity. Are you still you? Love changes people. But there is this centre core that made us who we are - the values that made that someone notice you and cherish you. So, while you are in love and are cherishing the moments in it, are you changing as a person? Do you realize that change? Is that something that is making you happy? Do you think, you can look in a mirror, a few years from now and notice that the person in the mirror is not a husk of you, but still you?
My fifth premise - surprises. How do you handle a surprise thrown at you? How does your lover handle the surprise thrown at him or her? Be it a surprise birthday party or a surprise of life altering events? Can you roll with it? Because, one can never prepare enough for life. It has its way of throwing you off balance and sometimes, that off balance can be nasty truths.
My last premise - miles. Have you seen enough miles of life to formulate your life's ideals? Do you have experience to pick the reins of your life and move through the miles alone, if need be? Yes, it is important to KNOW that you can live life without that seemingly important person in life. Sometimes, you just have to accept that, despite everything, two people can never be compatible enough to smooth all the rough rides of life. But, when you share a bumpy ride with your love, some times, even the best days seem a distant memory. When that happens, can you pick your life and not look back and realize, OUCH, I have been a happy fool!
I do realize, that there is a lot of YOU in the above statements. I personally think that, you are YOU, be it in a relation or alone. Love should be an extension of you. Something that can embrace you in its warmth on a chilly day or walk along side you on a beautiful sunny day or be an umbrella on a rainy day. It should make you feel special. Because, if you are not you, then you are not you. I do not know, how else to put it. Changes are inevitable, as each experience today, shapes our tomorrow. But, being in love, should make that process enriching and easier. Since, for every aspect of life, there are two filters, one you and other, your lover. If it gets tough, it should still be enriching. Else, it is time to think of all the premises and make a choice.
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