Movie Review: Sanju

The movie is a biopic yet, it teaches a lot of things; could be called a set of dos and don'ts which we should keep in mind while making choices in our lives. First and foremost is choosing our company wisely. Company matters because company affects. Second thing is for both parents and children, to stay close to family and the fragility of human relations (can be broken in a second). Third, have no fear, stand up for yourself, if need be, take a bullet and die a hero's death (hero of real life). Fourth, ignorance can be very fatal. The movie contains an appropriate example. Fifth, the effects of someone's death can be devastating. So all members of the family should stick together like pillars having each other's back.
Other issues from an observer's perspective I found are the fact that this could be the story of any star kid. Parental legacy can be a burden for the young blooming child. People in power need to take extra care of their children because they will always remain in the limelight. Also, there are definite cautionary parenting tips clearly given.
Dutt seemed to be a kid until his father did not actually become his friend. Death of the mother and support of the father made him grow as a person, the character growth is clearly visible as the movie progresses. The brilliant acting of the actors added to the marvels of the flick. And ofcourse, how important writers are, everyone must know by now.
Last but not the least, anyone's life can teach but the question is, from whose life are we willing to learn?

Dedication to grandmother

On a tensed Monday morning I got to know,
My grandmother was not around, not anymore.
Raced all memories, right from the first memory I had of her,
Clad in blue, with a smile to cheer.
Wished on all birthdays, festivals and new year's,
None could be complete without a blessing of hers.
Phone calls on landlines were an early connection,
Mobile phones revolutionised and brought us more near.
Difficult to accept she has gone,
Wish she could come back and stay along.
Now that she has gone,
I can only think of the time we had all along.
Life is such, it gives heart and breaks it,
But living with that is the only way to make it.
Did a lot of hardwork throughout her life,
Gave love and just love to everyone when alive.
I will miss her forever and seek her blessing on every occasion,
Every big event of my life would be incomplete without her invocation.
I wish she would make her presence felt somehow,
I desperately want her to be around.
I may grow old but I will never let go the few things I have left of her,
That is all to remind me she is still here.

Movie Review: Hichki

Had already heard it's a movie for teachers.  But it is slightly flawed. Being an educator myself, I couldn't help but agree to this being next teacher's favourite after "Chalk and duster". And flaws? Where?
With some really good dialogues commenting on the education system altogether, this movie is more about faith, brilliance, opportunity and hope. Faith in terms of the unwavering faith the teacher (in the movie) has in the potential of the children and chanellizing it in the right direction.
The fact that every student has potential and a brilliant mind is another aspect of the movie. With the right guidance, wonders can happen.
Another issue brought to the forefront is of the class divide which doesn't let the students have opportunities; resultant of which, they are rebellious and ready to battle. Clearly observed by the teacher herself, there's a reason behind everything. Also, those who do get the opportunity misuse it is also given by the example in towards the end.
The parents of these kids have hope for the betterment of their children and the teacher too is hopeful of the right results despite criticism for her students.
An important point of focus in the movie is the tourette syndrome. The fact that everyone should be accepted with whatever they have because they never acquired it by choice. Parental support for any child is repeatedly harped upon throughout the movie.

Movie Review: Fukrey Returns

Delayed it quite a lot, but did find the time to watch the second instalment of the earlier comic flick. If the comparison was to be made between the two, or I was given a choice to watch one of them again, I would definitely choose the first one. Why? I have my own reasons.
The one major difference to be spotted is the fact that the magnitude of money to be earned (via lottery) is bigger this time. As a result, the lurch the four representatives of the youth fall into is way bigger. Consequently, the female counterparts are just next to invisible. Yet the villain (of the previous instalment) emerges as a round character here (the only one) being caught up in trouble situations and shown to be with less brains than the prequel.
The first half is more fun and reflects on the previous flick (advisable: watch the previous one closely first) but the second half seems more stretched and also a tinge of political chaos is shown to affect the lives of the youth of today. One wrong step, and they were on a run for their lives.
End lesson: money is what matters finally.

Serious issue here

Being a woman, and certainly not against the women folk, yet critiquing a person of my own race.
Everywhere there are chants of the youth being the future of the country, not just ours but any. But how can the youth be banked upon when there is no certainty about what there childhood has been like?
I saw a young woman, must be in her early prime, early in the morning, perfectly following the saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”
But what about the common knowledge that lack of cleanliness is also bound to take you to the doctor?
Enjoyed her apple to the full and when nothing remained in it, dropped it midway. Simply!
I certainly felt angered. But further introspection made me question what she learnt in childhood? I realized, she isn't the one to be blamed, the upbringing is, which she got.
Before going Gaga over the youth and it's power, it's necessary to ensure the same youth gets the ideal upbringing for a future perfect youth.

Book Review: Untouchable (Mulk Raj Anand)

I finally took a plunge into Dalit literature and began with a landmark text by Anand. Highly recommended read by all readers, I had to read and write what I felt.
The novel in itself is a masterpiece by a non-dalit writer. He remains detached and let's the characters come to life completely on their own, this novel mainly revolves around the events that happen in one day in the life of the protagonist, Bakha.
The novel clearly brings out the cruelties suffered in the name of caste distinctions and the effects it has on the people. Also, it touches other issues like position of women, hypocritical nature of society, clash of religions and cultures while the subjugation of Indians by the British continues in the background (the arrival of missionaries to the scene and their attempted conversion of Hindus to Christianity) giving reference to the presence of colonialism.
Interestingly, Indians are shown to discriminate amongst each other on caste basis, while Britishers are shown discriminating against all Indians together on race basis.
The text shows how the caste system is present in the remotest corners of the society and people irrespective of castes have blindly accepted it as their fate or God's will (as they put it). In the name of God's will, they suffer inhuman treatment at the hands of society by cleaning other's dirt, being bestowed with the title 'polluted' and begging for food. What would happen if they for once refused to clean that dirt? The 'polluted' people clean the dirt of the 'unpolluted' who pollute the place themselves.
But people like Bakha are so submissive and fearful because they don't have any power and resources. They have resigned to their destiny (Bakha's father Lakha has) considering this is what they were born to do. Yet, Bakha dreams. He dreams to be able to wear the English saheb's uniforms, play hockey etc.
Ironically, lower castes are called polluted (as is with Bakha) but molesting the lower caste women does not pollute the 'unpolluted' people (as in the case of Bakha's sister Sohini). Gandhi's speech towards the end serves to heighten the irony more vividly when all shout "harijan ki jay". In the morning as the day progresses, the same people abuse and shun the same Harijans and by evening the shout "harijan ki jay" for the same Harijans in congruence to Gandhi's speech.
Gandhi's speech also brings different reactions among the crowd. This is where Anand brought about the powerful effects of English education on Indians (Indians in blood and colour but Englishmen in tastes ideals and morals, as Macaulay would say). They boast of the English writers they have read but there is no mention of any Indian writer which speaks for the snobbery and cultural disconnect Indians had to suffer from and continue to suffer even today.

Exam phobia

A kind of phobia found in everyone, children, adolescents, adults; irrespective of age are prone to the stress and worries an examination brings along. The question is, why is this fear? After some thought, I could come to a sensible conclusion. That was:
because some uncontrollable force beyond our reach and knowledge, an unknown force is going to interrogate us and on the basis of our knowledge, understanding and application we have to answer and our saviours, our resources, our books wouldn't be in our access to save us.
Everyone feels the same in the examination scenario, no matter what age group they belong to. Adults handle the examination time and stress on their own because they have become accustomed to it but younger ones, adolescents and children are the most vulnerable ni victims. The sense of competition frightens them and they have sleepless nights coupled with loss of appetite. Of course examination is necessary to evaluate the learning of the students and I am certainly not against it, but there are certain simple things that can be done to avoid the stress and anxiety here. If everyone is told competition is only with themselves and their previous scores, perhaps things would be much better. The comparisons that parents do have a lot of effect on the young minds which can hamper their overall social development. Its best to make them compete with the scores they had earlier, that would for sure bring out better of their potential.