Movie review - Main Gandhi ko nahi mara

I was left wondering how this Gandhiji related title was suitable for a film based on dementia/Alzheimer's. 

Anupam Kher dons the role of an absent minded professor, whose absentmindedness is actually the beginning of a more serious brain deterioration.  It could be age-related, because he is retired from active service for a couple of years, but still remembers some incidents with vivid detail.  Urmila Matondkar is the only daughter between two boys, older one away in the US and younger one still in college.  Not wanting to trouble her older brother she takes up the responsibility of caring for her father - taking him to doctors and worries over him.  The younger brother immaturely talks about admitting his dad in an 'asylum' which angers Urmila and rightly so.

Things shoot out of control when Urmila's four year boyfriend's parents visit to discuss the possible marriage when her dad bursts out in anger for having kept a teacup inadvertly on Gandhiji's picture.  Urmila is caught in between her father's deteriorating mental health and the insensitivity of her boyfriend.  Its when she finds him married that her world collapses, but she has to pull on for her father's sake - he has had more instances of running away from home and even setting his room on fire.  He repeatedly says that it he did not kill Gandhiji.

A good doctor comes into the picture and his approach turns around things.  The family unlocks their father's obsession with his guilty feeling.  An unexpected experiment turns out to be a success and things get back to normalcy.

Its only possible in Indian movies that the topic starts off as brain dysfunction and ends up in patriotism! 

Movie review - Kahaani

I give full marks for this movie.  Very gripping story which keeps up your interest till the last scene.  A nice plot which even entertains your brain.  Vidya Balan plays very well her role of a very pregnant woman who visits Kolkata to search for her husband gone missing since two weeks.  How she takes revenge on those who were the reason behind her husband's death and so many other innocent victims in the Kolkata metro train poisoning is the theme of this story.  The story plays out so well, that at last, it is confusing whether it really happened or not.  That's why this movie is named so aptly as 'kahaani' or 'story'.

"If your path is more difficult, it is because of your high calling"

The more I ruminate on this the more it rings true.  However I would substitute 'difficult' with 'unique'.  

Some well meaning friends used to advise me :  Do not specialise too much in one area, because the more you specialise in one area, the more difficult it is to join the mainstream.   It made sense to me but never really affected my choices.  To begin with mine is a unique subject and jobs cut out for it are indeed rare.  Even the few jobs do not really give one an opportunity for personal growth.  But on the flip side, a lot of my growth depends on how I improve my knowledge, outside of the job area.

And certainly I do feel a very strong invisible pull to my subject.  Right now I do not know perhaps that it is my calling but in the past whenever (more specifically on two occasions) I have tried to switch areas somehow it has not materialised.  And it has not been painful at all!  Thats the awesomeness of it!  Both times I have landed with better opportunities to learn and grow.  That s why I call it 'invisible'.  I certainly don't see it but it does exercise a strong pull.  Its like whenever a child tries to wander off from its nursery, the mother gently but surely makes sure it does not go astray and puts him back in his nursery where it is safe for him and where he can learn a lot.

Movie review - Moonu

The thing that stands etched in my memory about this film is Shruti Hassan's crying face.  I think in every alternate frame, this dame is crying - for something or the other and for no apparent reason whatsoever! Whew!  

The story was okay, certainly an off the beaten track one and based on a 'psychology' subject and could be considered 'trendy' I suppose!  The first part of the movie moves well and both Dhanush and Shruti can pass off as school kids. Prabhu and Bhanupriya seem typical parents of a laid back boy, the mother very protective and the father too strict.  Though they seem affectionate and acquiesce to his every wish, why are they not in the picture when he has a serious problem? 

I would have liked the movie to start on a more positive note instead of Dhanush's funeral.  The anguish of a young widow is portrayed well. Shruti makes a very convincing grieving young widow who is torn in her sorrow.  What makes it all the more unsettling is that Dhanush has been killed in his own apartment, in broad daylight, but there are no signs of a struggle or nothing robbed from the apartment.
The movie flows on briskly, weaving together the past and the present and how finally Shruti finds answers for some very troubling questions.
On the whole, an entertaining watch if you are into serious themes.
 

sarvam premamayam....

Everywhere I turn I encounter the symbol of love.  They say that a cobbler only looks at slippers, or more specifically only slippers catch his eye. 

Everywhere I am, whether in the kitchen or garden I see love, and in seemingly insignificant places.  I have captured some images here, but some special ones were too fleeting for my camera.  The other day I looked up into the sky and saw some dark clouds framing their fair counterpart in the shape of a heart.  It was one wonderful sight!  But before I could bring out the camera it was gone.
They say a heart shape symbolises Love. 

Are these the Universe's hints of saying that I should be more loving to all around me?  Or do I see these because I am loving?  (like the cobbler example)  Or are these hints that I should take better care of my precious heart?

A splash of love

Roti of love

An impression of love

Another roti of love....... in the making

A frosting of love

A leaf of love

A fruit of love

Ip Man and Ip Man 2

Wow! What a beautiful, beautiful movie!! I loved them both!  There was no monotony in fight scenes where heroes literally jump into fights just because they are martial artists!  Even I, enjoyed it, frame by frame.  I say 'even I' because normally I do not relish the fight scenes at all, No Sire!

The films are apparently based on true stories of the Wing Chun branch of martial art legend of the same name.

After watching the movie, now I have new respect for the master and his people in general.  The lead character is developed beautifully.  It is said that a true warrior is also truly forgiving and patient.  It is said in the Raghuvamsa about the great kings in that lineage:  "Who were silent because/in spite of their wisdom, who were patient and forgiving inspite of their valour and sacrificing in spite of their immense wealth ...."  

ज्ञाने मौनं क्षमा शक्तौ त्यागे श्लाघाविपर्ययः ।

गुणाः गुणानुबन्धित्वात् तस्य सप्रसवाः इव ॥

In the same logic, the martial artist was portrayed as extremely humble and patient.

One scene in particular is my favourite:  The wife would be sick and there would be absolutely no grain in the house.  The master would prepare a little porridge with whatever grain is available.  The poor woman, in spite of her sickness would  be so concerned that he and the child would have nothing to eat and so would ask, whether any grain is left.  The master would reply so calmly, not to worry about these things, that she should get well soon.  This situation would actually prompt him to realise the need for him to work for a living.  The wife would be so concerned that hitherto affluent person has to look for work now, he would so consolingly reply that that is not the end of the world.

I really liked and admired his tone.

Elsewhere too people have been so unassuming and simple.  I am sure our ancestors would have had the same outlook though they may not have been in the same country or even continent.  Only in this generation is the focus or should I say frenzy for material things so widely prevalent. 

On the whole, good movies, great entertainment and a wonderful carry home message

Great Service

    I was very thankful for the steaming hot spicy food served at Kanlaya Thai Restaurant in Harrisburg, PA.  It is very close to the highway.  
http://www.kanlayathairestaurant.com/

    We were heading home after a small outdoors trip at PA, and basically we (at least I was) were tired of all the non-rice items that we had been having since the weekend started.  I was yearning for some rice, hot and fresh and spicy..... yumm...

    We had about half an hour to forty five minutes for the dinner 'break'.  The location was really friendly (so we didn't spend much time breaking our journey getting to the restaurant and back on the highway).  As usual we reached half an hour before closing.  I say 'as usual' because we as a couple seem to be having major issues with the time :)  we get everywhere just minutes before they close!  Well in the same fashion we reached the restaurant too, but actually this time may be it wasn't all our fault!  

    The point I want to make here is that even though we had just half hour before their closing, the staff was very friendly and did not hurry us up at all!  Not one bit!  

    And I really relished their vegetable rice seasoned with pineapple basil etc.  I do not remember the exact title of that item though.  But it did the magic, I was energized.  The portion size, the temperature and taste of the food, all were great!  I give them an A+!

What I liked the most was, that they let us order and finish it in our own pace.  For that I am very happy and even grateful!

    I guess that is why among all types of charity, annadana or charity of food is considered to be one of the best!  Sure, we paid for our food here (as everywhere, of course), but feeding people goes beyond a business, it satiates the recipient/ eater, and with the proper taste and good service, the giver transcends beyond that time that we actually visit a restaurant and wins over at least a small portion of our heart!