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Only a fortnight to go. Then all the results will be out. And all the election craziness will stop. Its not that I do not like to vote, or does not support democracy and all that, but I just hate the campaigning methods. They seek attention creating all the rumours and speeches or bashing the other parties. They create road blocks by visiting all the small roads and houses to show their “affection”.  I recently saw one or two roads tarred. Those were the worst main roads, with lots of pits n all, as if the road was built on sand. I am not sure whether it got maintained due to the complaints or due to the election fever. And most of all is the Prime Minister seat chase. Should I call it hilarious?

I am really counting the days…

I thought it was going to be another Monday morning. I was just browsing through the various channels on TV to start with, and saw the 81st Annual Academy Awards function in Star Movies. It was the Oscars! And I sat there for the next 2 hours glued to it.

Smile Pinki got the award for the Best Documentary short film. I haven’t seen the documentary, but I am happy for her that she too was mentioned at the Oscars. How many are lucky like that?

A.R.Rahman and Rasul Pookutty did deserved the awards for Slumdog Millionaire. I won’t say “Jai ho” was the Best original song and all, but the original background score was brilliant and the sound mixing, editing,  or whatever term it is called, was brilliant. The story was simple and nothing much to talk about. But the photography, sound, music, film editing etc was brilliant.The speeches made by those Indians, made every Indian proud. Rasul indeed made history. I liked his speech more than Rahman’s, who was more professional, though he spoke Hindi, English and Tamil on the stage. It was indeed a drama to speak of the country and making it proud and all, but its indeed a priceless moment, which would rewrite history and would be boasted of much, in coming years. Read the rest of this entry »

January 30. The day when the father of the nation, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, was assassinated.

I remember this day from the school. At the assembly, on this day, we would be reminded to follow the silent standing ceremony at around 10 or 10.30 am. The bell would ring at an odd time in midst of the class period, and we would all stand for one single minute in silence to commemorate the assassination of Gandhiji. We considered this break a warm welcome to the same routine of the teaching. In those days, I don’t remember having a break in the morning session.

In the high school, we had to study full history and autobiography of Gandhiji, “My Experiments with Truth”, in the form of English-II subject. Though it was the edited or the simplified version, we had to study his whole life. It was interesting at some points, but from the point of view of exams, it was not. I even once wondered, if Gandhiji was not there, we would have escaped this subject etc!

When I was in school, I remember watching the film Gandhi, on either August 15th, January 26th or October 2nd. But I remember the school book rather than the film. Read the rest of this entry »

The streaks of the sun said good morning to me through the window. The kitchen was now brightly lit. It looked like one of those photos taken by the professionals. Everything was perfectly arranged in the cupboards. Except for the few dishes in the sink.

I went to the dressing wardrobe and picked up my diary from beneath. The environment was perfect for unloading the words.

“This is my daily job. To get up early in the morning, prepare the tea and breakfast, and then this dish cleaning after he left to office. Sometimes, I start on the laptop before i wash the dishes. They can wait, but not my parents. It would be late night for them. Just delaying their early sleep and sitting by on the machine, waiting for their daughter to call up. Then around 11, I take my bath and have to prepare for lunch. The timings of both were never consistent. The latter would be skipped sometimes, if at all he never knocks the door at noon. And then, the whole of the afternoon dedicated to myself, my thoughts and just me. It had become my routine.

The afternoon thoughts have now blended into my mind and body. It was the same everyday. As in the famous film Zanjeer, what is it that I don’t have? I live in an average rented house. I have a  loving husband who takes extreme care of me, and who earns dollars and takes me out on most nights and weekends in our car. I have a bunch of friends who keeps asking about me and the luxuries I enjoy at this abroad home. The missing of parents and relatives is natural for a newly married woman as the pains during the childbirth. What then is missing? Read the rest of this entry »

“I love you dear”
“I love you too Mom…”
And then they embraced together and cried. That was the end of the film.

Amrita was crying in her seat. I blinked my eyes to ward off the tears. People had started to move out of the theater. It was our usual habit for the rush to calm down first and then to move out. The background song of the film was still playing somewhere in the corners.

The ending words of the film were still ringing in my ears. When had I said the same to my Mom? But how to say? I am not a child or boy anymore. I am a grown up man now. I have a wife now. We have been married for around 5 years now. It was her plan to watch the film in theater. Among the Indian audiences. After all, we had been living abroad for 3 years now. And maybe living again when she is well enough. Mom. no, Mamma. That’s how I call her. Her operation was held just one month ago. And my vacation which I beautifully clubbed with the fine excuse, is about to finish. This weekend we will be flying again, if tickets are obtained. The same old job, the same old routine, the same old woodhouse in US, where only me and Amrita lived, the same old house where I will miss having Mamma’s food. Read the rest of this entry »

At times, you do feel proud as Indian, when some new things happen. Not because you did something patriotic. Not because you were part of the Indian victory in any way, and neither because you ever pray for India in your daily prayers. But its there. That sense of spirit shines and sparkles annually twice in your heart, and also occasionally at such happy news.
When in school, you finish singing along the “Jaya Hai” of the national anthem…
When in television, you see the Republic Day parade early in the morning of Jan 26th..
When in newspapers, you see the bright colors of green saffron and white…
When in those, you read the sacrificing stories of Independence and Indian Culture…
When in theatre, you finish watching Chak De and Swades..
When in media, news came that Lagaan went to Oscars…
When in 1996, the TV report showed Leander Paes winning the bronze medal..
When in bike, you see tomorrow’s youth in small children in school uniform travelling ahead…
When in mobile, you hear the “I love my India” song of Pardes…
When in car, you wish to buy the Indian Flag, available at Rs.10 and place it near the wheel..
When two days ago, you celebrated the Independence Day again..
And when now, India has almost won 3 medals at Beijing Olympics..

Vande Mataram!

Just finished reading the “3 mistakes of my life” by Chetan Bhegat. I had read reviews of Ashwin and many others, and had not much hopes on it. But now I dont feel it as worse as his second book. And the author has always the style of hooking readers till the end, with a superb prologue.

The story plot at times and at many many places may sound very unrealistic. But its a fiction book. Unless you provide the fictionary part it becomes non-fiction. So I discard the irrelevant script of abroad trip and other impractical scenarios.

The twists and turns,the portrayal of the major issues of Gujarat and also India was good. I have seen the riots, the fights over religion in news and also in another film, Kazcha, based on the same and it had always let me down. On top of it, the tint of politics just added to the distaste.

There were instances I loved the subtle humor. The theme of love story didn’t interested me, though the love story did looked cute initially. The struggle of Govind to live, the disappointments, the resurrection after the unsuccessful dreams, and the cinematic climax were the only good points.

Overall I could rate it at around 6/10. Have you read this book? What is the rating???

It was a pleasant experience watching this film in the big screen of Six degrees theatre at Sathyam Cinemas, last weekend. Shahrukh Khan was rocking and dashing and smashing in this new role of a coach of Indian Women Hockey Team. I guess the reviews are already spread all over internet, mentioning the amazing and superb performance of the girls and SRK n all.

For me, it was a different movie from the usual love soaps. The character was inspirational and motivational to overcome the challenges and difficulties of the life, be it in a hockey team or in our individual lives. It was released at the apt time, when India celebrates its Independence Day. Its the second film of SRK which depicted and enhanced India as whole, the first film being Swades. At some points of the film, I felt the message being portrayed as, Where there is a will, there is a way. The music and background score also was inspiring and matching with the screenplay, though not so rocking. The 16 girls has given an impressive performance, almost most of them are new to the film industry I guess, but you don’t feel that they are new or just actors in the film. They feel like the-girl-next-door and you feel their victory as yours. The ending was easily predictable, but surely, its a one-time watch, and even watchable twice, for the tickling comedy!!

Altogether I would rate this movie an 8.5, though it would reach upto 9, if the second half was intriguing and better.