‘2010’ and ‘The Hangover’

Two over-hyped movies.

Two movies which I couldn’t watch in cinema hall when they were released.

Two movies which made me feel bad for not being able to watch.

Two movies which got me all happy and excited when I spotted their VCDs in Planet M.

Despite being so different from each other, I found them to be similar in one aspect. You don’t care for ANY of the characters. This is despite the attempts to build up the emotions, tragedy, comic situations.

I just didn’t care!!

And why do I write this post? Well it is just to remind myself(yet again) that it’s high time that I stop watching such silly movies!

Difficult and scary

I am finding it difficult to go back to the place where you no longer stay.

To visit an empty room full of your memories.

The picture of us lying somewhere beneath the newspaper lining in your almirah.

The numerous mementos collected and gifted by loved ones.

The lovely saris I always had my eyes on.

The smell of your warmth still making the room welcome.

An old calendar marked with dates of our visit.

And the ‘cream’ , ‘powder’ you loved so much.

It is really scary to come face to face with the stark emptiness.

Of no longer hearing my name and no more stories to tell.

………..Getting prepared for a tough journey ahead………….

Sometimes I don’t know whether to laugh or cry..

For instance when I hear something like this:

Anand’s Indian citizenship questioned

Promise to myself

On days like these when hopes are low,

eyes are moist and moments are slow.

I promise myself to keep alive

the goodness of heart and the spirit so naive.

I would not insist on not trusting any more

as I can’t let bitterness turn my heart into sore.

I can no longer claim to be alone in this big, bad world

for I have angels on this earth and the special one guarding from above.

What is life all about?

falling in love like a silly teenager.

Soaking in someone’s warm affection.

Family ties and friendship bonds.

Snuggling together in a single cot.

Knowing what path is right to choose

and then changing midway to something new.

Being aware of the fake lines

and yet giving a chance one more time.

Forgetting self in the nursery rhymes

Smelling the milky freshness of toothless smiles.

Being judgmental and then letting go

Forming opinions of high and low.

Emotional fool and yet being wise

Daily struggles to be alive.

Distance

I look around and feel the void that you have left inside my lonely heart.

And then I feel the familiar twinge and know that you are happy in the other world.

Strength of a relationship

is an amazingly surprising concept. What you believe would hurt it acts like a strong adhesive in reality!

Unaccustomed Earth – Jhumpa Lahiri

A compilation of beautiful stories – most of them causing a dull ache in heart.

It is a pleasant change from the usual NRI stories that you read. The problems are the same and yet it’s dealt with in a more practical and non-cliched manner by the characters.

Jhumpa Lahiri knows exactly what’s going on in the character’s mind and pens it down so beautifully that you feel like being a part of his/her life.

The characters of Hema and Kaushik (a part of couple of stories which though different, are still intertwined with each other) are simple, real, and yet full of complex human emotions. They do make you question your own views/actions and reach on a conclusion that nothing is ever right or wrong.

This is exactly why I like Indian writers (esp the beautiful and talented Ms Lahiri). You are made to face the situations that the characters go through. You cannot help but being non-judgmental. You are not a reader anymore. You are a part of their lives, sharing their daily habits, feeling their pain and smiling with them.

So, What’s happening?

Nothing actually!!

Things have been very quite at our end. Perhaps that is a good thing! Perhaps this is what ‘peaceful living’ is all about! There are short phases of ill health, minor issues with Diya (Two + is as troublesome an age as it is cute!), small highs and lows at work… overall a fairly straight line. This is what I had always wished for. A smooth sail!

I am living my dream right now.

And yet after a while  dullness creeps in. Something that makes you get up, pack your bags and go out for a vacation. We have been planning some kind of vacation for quite some time now. But things were just not working out –  leave issues, hectic work schedule, health problems ….. And so we compensated for  that with fun weekends. Lalbagh, Cubbon Park, Ulsoor lake , and of course the neighborhood park.Then there are movies – good and the really bad ones. We settled on watching the worst kinds. 🙂

And when the void starts to overwhelm us, we just dump a few essential things in the car and rush off. Somewhere between a well planned holiday and an impromptu one.

This time it is Pondicherry (or Puducherry).

Once upon a time in Mumbai

I don’t understand Robin Hoods. I really don’t. I don’t understand their character. What makes them justify their actions? The ‘Greater Good’? Now isn’t that a lame excuse to be used when you are doing exactly what you are fighting against?

I tried my best not to relate the two main characters to Haji Mastan and Dawood Ibrahim. But failed. The similarities are too obvious to be ignored. And it’s Ajay Devgan who wins your heart with his intensity. I loved the romantic moments he shares with Kangana, who by the way looks gorgeous and delicate.

It’s a one time watch (aren’t all movies these days are?) and one should go with no expectations but watching Ajay Devgan!

The story is quite lame and similar to a thousand others shown before. Imran Hashmi is not bad either. His character is also a little incoherent. The progress from being a follower to the leader himself has been shown quite abruptly. I would have preferred to watch a gradual progression and change in his character.

Randeep Hooda looks good and can even act! That’s a good thing. Now if only they had worked a little more on his character!

Overall a decent movie falling just a little below the ‘Good’ rating for me!