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I had resorted to review immediately each and every book that I read, so that I could pen down my views and the emerging thoughts influenced by the writing onto the blog. But off late, the timing was not enough and bad scheduling have chopped off most of the thoughts. So before I lose them all, let me share few lines atleast for some of them.

Brida by Paul Coelho:

I had finished this soon after I did the page123 tag. The effect of Paul Coelho had kinda started to diminish in me one by one. Not that I disliked his theme n all, but I am not that impressed any more. Maybe that’s why I am hesitating to take up the thrid book of his from my bookshelf, “By the river Piedra…”. There had been many instances which I didn’t liked or believed in this book, say for example, the re-birth and the story of Wicca and Witchcraft. I don’t deny or say that re-birth is false, but its just that I have not been convinced yet of those thoughts. The main thing I liked is that, Brida was in search of her soulmate, if it ever existed, just like any young woman and the revelation to her that we can meet more than one soulmate in our lives. The concept of the Dark Forest was also meaningful at times, and I particularly liked the ending (if at all you have the patience to reach there!) , which is almost applicable in the present life.

Ladies Coupe by Anita Nair:

The starting of the book was great, since it spoke of the railway station and train journeys which reminded me of my own travels. There was a fictional part of listening to all the life stories of 5 people in one single night, but nevertheless its a fiction. The stories of all the young ladies strikes a note with present life, but not entirely at some places. Some places it looks exaggerated, but we never know what all happens at urban places or within relationships. The protagonist, Akhila searches for an answer whether is it essential for a woman to get married in life. The unrevealed answer is contained in the open ending, so as to create more depth in the intrigued solutions of the common question. For me, its actually par with the Arranged Marriage, but on the other side, and I feel it portrays unconventional answers, but depicting conventional importance. Read the rest of this entry »

I had watched Kidnap last Sunday. It was unscheduled but still we got tickets. Imran Khan would be really happy that we had seen his both films!!! Nothing much to write about as its pretty much done here. At most places, RK and me were laughing out loud for the stupid scenes, and at the artificiality of Bollywood. Obviously, how can you not laugh when an 18 year old kidnapped victim, instead of making use of the chance and escape, nurses the kidnapper who has been gun-shot!! The glam dresses of both mother and daughter are again unfit to the theme. Minisha is not fit for glam roles. She is cute and able to act, but I guess needs to be choosy. The only part I liked was the tasks set by the kidnapper, the clues, the convincing answers for the actions, and tasks and the ending, which unlike other films doesn’t end up with love story among the kidnapper and the victim!

Does it also points out at the dark side of the law system and the juvenile home treatment and jail which creates more criminals out of young people?

From many years, the most catchy topic among the film writers are the stories involving emotions. There are many international and national or even regional films or movies created which talks of the simple and heart-felt underlying emotions of human being. This clearly clarifies that human beings, though belongs to various regions, speaks different languages, follows different religions and customs, are made up of the same atoms which contains the elements of emotions too. As in the survival of the fittest, its upto our surroundings and environment, that some times turns heart into stone.  Recently I watched some films which spoke of the pure feelings and love deep hidden amongst our hearts, and some of which even has a dark shade to it.

My Girl (Fan Chan in Thai) is a Thai film, which speaks of the innocent and pure love towards your childhood best friend. Jeah and Noi Nah were the best friends and neighbours when they studied in the same school. At the small age, when we loved to grow,  and grow on adventures, Jeah struggles to balance his friendship with Noi Nah, while juggling his priorities with other boys and his adventures.  Just like us, he forgets that time does not wait for him and they move apart. After few years, he hopes to meet her again at her wedding. The Thai small town landscape depicted the typical Indian villages kinda atmostphere and the sissy sassy games, the school classes, and the routine, brings back and flashes your childhood memories where in you can relate to some way or the other. The lyrics of the songs are beautifully poetic, when you understand them, with the help of the sub titles. Read the rest of this entry »

“Lucky hote hai woh jinhe zindagi mein doosra mauka miltha hai…”

Yesterday, on the fly, we got tickets for Rock On!!! And it was absolutely rocking. I don’t want to review it. I couldn’t view it as a film. It portrayed characters with some shades of mine, rather you, or everyone.

The film spoke of the rock band, Magik, which did live performances and created wonders. It spoke of the drift in life, in which they are carried away with the compromises of life. I too, rather ,each one of us has created Magik in our yesteryears. I don’t mean live performances or great music. But some magic moments. At various phases in my life. There were KD, Joe and Rob, Tanya and Debbie in many of those whom I met. There was the reminiscent Tea stall in the form of restaurants and other hang outs. There was even Sakshi amongst us, who tried to bring out the real “us”  from inside. And there were the drift aparts too. It has not been 10 years as in the film, but time has taken its toll already, and is dominating. Are we gonna miss the 10 years? Are we really satisfied with the way we live? Are we really happy? Are we being the real? What is it that we are lacking? What if, we don’t get a second chance unlike in the film? Or did we miss the second chance? What if, we are not lucky as Rob in real life?  Do we need to wait for another Sakshi and Devika to sprung up in our lives and take us back once again to recreate Magik? What’s pulling us back to take the initiative???

“..kab woh mera peecha chodenge?..”
“…jab tum unse bhaagna bandh kar dhoge…“

After being smitten by Aditi song from Sree, I was following up with the trailors of Jaane Tu.. everywhere in TV and in papers. The fancy words of friendship and love and the borders and all always excited me as any other young woman with no exception. The only problem is that it triggers me into the world of dreams and adventure of untravelled paths and pulls me into never-answered pool of life-related questions.

Like all other girls, I could only say “ga ga goo goo” over Imran Khan, as he is such a cute and handsome boy. Genelia too was cute and I am sure, almost all the guys who came to watch it, would be “meow“ing in their dreams that night. The rest of the gang played only side kick roles and you are not gonna remember them, unless they reminded you of some persons or events in your own college life.

The most unexpected part was that the story was so simple. I had thought of some twists and turns, but nothing happened. Within 15 mins of the start of the film I could realize what would be the end. And to top it all, my favourite song of the film was missing in it! But later I realized it was not the problem of the theatres, but that of the final editing itself. I love the voice of Sukhwinder Singh for the amount of pain and emotions he puts in every line of any song. And here, the lyrics of that song was also good.As explained in other reviews of the same by Deep, Sreeram and Ashwin, I could also sense the dragging of some guest appearances. The impracticality of the screenplay or the script especially in the later half, drove away all my excitement from me. It was like the much-hyped book “3 mistakes of my life“, of which some parts you love and some you hate. The film had the theme which resembled the Malayalam film “Niram” by Kamal; the similarity being reminded to me by a friend of mine.

But there was humor (would you call it rather situational-comedy kind?), there was freshness (there are so many new faces, and of which many are not so bad ones) and there was the energy, and not to forget the songs and the superb background music. I would rate it for 7/10 as its a good flick, if you want to time pass at home, watching it for over a 40 rs DVD with snacks at reachable distance from you.

And as expected, it has triggered again the thoughts in me, rather the partly answered question: Boys and girls can never remain just close or best friends forever. Is it??? What do you say???

“Arranged Marriage” by Chitra Banerjee is a small collection of short stories. Its been long I read short stories, and I even wondered for a sec whether I did a mistake by buying the book. But I was not that much dissatisfied. Maybe its because of the similar emotions I am dwindling in. Or maybe I could understand what they mean when they bring out the moral ” Perfect life is an illusion”. Now that doesn’t mean anything personal about me, but it somewhere resonates in the mind that its part of the bitter truth.

There are stories dealing with dreams and hopes of a bride to the hidden pains and troubles of marriage amidst the unexplainable bond of happiness or the silent comfort and dependency attached to it. I thought it would contain some reflections of a newly wedded couple and their thoughts, but the book grew beyond the small things to reflect upon the big picture. It talked about the live in relationships, pregnancy and abortion and related feelings, the depth of decision making at various stages in life, including that of a adoption, or the delicacies of hiding infidelity and disdain in absolute blankness. What touched me was the bare blankness attached to every character leaving them raw (or ripe?) enough to bare life with half-closed eyes.

The 350 bucks was too expensive for the collection. But nevertheless, it was a good read and had simple vocabulary enough to keep you bound. It can disturb your mood swings, so I would never recommend to read it unless you are in a state of what-the-hell with the world or are in practical terms with life.

I would rate it at 6.5/10.

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???

Ways to Achieve success; Power of now; Law of Attraction;

Spiritual enlightening books. How do they motivate us? Do they?

I have been reading quite a few ones, like Alchemist, Tuesdays with Morrie, Fish, and some ways to achieve success etc. Most of them carry a single message and keep repeating it through every sequences/scenarios.

People are mostly composed of oscillating thoughts comprised of their dreams and practicality. They do have so many options of living life, the various established (un)realistical myths of right and wrong. The difficult part is to choose to follow. We do accept or hear various views, keeping apart our opinions and views in backend. We sometimes criticize or are empathetic to them, with profound established view point to various matters. There are matters of heart, relationships, money, ambitions, studies, love, family, and many others and innumerous diverse scenarios as much as a writer can be deeply immersed in.

How to accept yourself to follow and choose the selected path is quite easy, once you have selected the factors. They keep juggling inorder to form a balance in life, but there would be some ethics based on which we select the path. To frame the ethics, both material and immaterial ones, is of utmost importance rather than selecting the path or goals. Don’t you think so?

For example, everyone loves their family and their self. They are one of the top priorities along with money. Being selfish is humane, but it need not be purely opposite of selfless.

I don’t deny the definitions, and the established rules of life, they may have some experience – biased reasoning which is high above our understanding. But until we are able to interpret the course of life fully enough to understand its depth, we do can, rather we do alter its basic definitions. That’s just a phase of life when we question and find their answers. The phase when we start framing the ethics. Does that mean, we need to get all the answers to our questions to frame our ethics and thereby select the path to live? Need not be, and I am sure we won’t be getting the answers, we do get, but unsatisfactory. Its just that this is the phase we need to mould more, to create a more happy life. But then why no books available pertaining to this point?
Or is it that I missed some of them?