Life, Eccentricities And Me

Few weeks back when my parents landed in Mumbai, I did get into this cooking spree which by now has lessened since Maa is here and we all know how obsessed we are with our mother’s food that we detest trying out otherwise. Now one of the days when I dished out a simple item like “chapati” to Baba, he was pleasantly surprised at my culinary expertise (the reason I boast of it is because he has been sadly the only person who has relentlessly tried my cooking disasters with a smile...and sometimes they had been real d-i-s-a-s-t-e-r-s) Baba, who is otherwise a gentleman of fewest of words really appreciated the hot round servings of the flat bread, adding on that they were even better than Maa’s! That was a huge compliment though! Now here the point isn’t to exhibit or promote my culinary excellence but to talk about some of the key tenets of great parenting skills which my parents have showcased (and are still). My parents never believed in the idea of constant pat on the backs, which...

Recently a piece of news information that startled the human out of me was a 16 year old brutally killing a 7 year old for a reason still unfathomable, and later showing absolutely no remorse for his heinous actions! Yes, I am referring to the Ryan International School , Gurugram scenario, wherein a child got brutally murdered in broad daylight and for months the investigating department officers had no clue as to how to approach further. But as they say, truth finds it’s way and so it did in this, when the two days back the entire nation woke up to the news of the real convict, who by virtue of his age, happens to be a minor but unlike so by virtue of his actions. The case of young Pradyuman getting brutally murdered within  school premises, makes us question the safety and security of our own children. The case being one of its kind did send a chill down our spines, leave alone make us brood over the death of an innocent life which was yet to bloom! The case and it’s convict...

I hear your heartbeat within me, I feel you within me. Who am I? I am a mother! I help you open your eyes to this beautiful world. Who am I? I am a mother! I hold you while you take those wobbly steps for the first time. Who am I? I am a mother! I withhold my tears when your tiny hands leave mine to hold your first teacher's. Who am I? I am a mother! I strain my already tired self just to console you when you are scared at night. Who am I? I am a mother! I watch the time race ahead, but wait patiently for you to eat first after you return weary due to work. Who am I? I am a mother! I pop a pill at times to keep up a strong front to let the home run in tune. Who am I? I am a mother! I forgo my meals to keep you full. Who am I? I am a mother! I sacrifice my happiness to put yours ahead. Who am I? I am a mother! I pose a pleasant disposition even though I am broken from inside. Who am I? I am a mother! I rest way past bedtime after all have rested their tired backs. Who am ...

While browsing through one of the top notch English channels on the television, I happened to chance upon a series that would soon be aired, “The Talvars”. Now, this highly sensational twin murder case that rocked the nation in the wee hours of 15th-16th May 2008, left us in a literal drunken stupor! The case made us question the roles and responsibilities of a parent; it made us wonder “the hand that rocks the cradle”, is it the same hand that can silence its own flesh and blood! Having said that, it’s one of those rarest of rare cases wherein the actual verdict is yet to be deciphered though the seemingly convicted parents, The Talwars, have already spent quite a prime of their lifetime in the prison. The reason for penning down this, isn’t to understand who the real accused is/are, but to understand the extent of inhumane behavior that can be reflected in the actions of mass media, such as television. These days television shows have reached a level wherein the viewers are compel...

I do not know if anyone has yet used an analogy as weird as this one-the more I watch “Chota Bheem” along with my toddler, the more amused I find myself! Chota Bheem, to me is way beyond a mere cartoon character, for me he is that hapless citizen of a nation whose government doesn’t believe in its own powers but relentlessly keeps vesting in a lot of aspiration in him; again, Chota Bheem is that employee under an inefficient leader who doesn’t hesitate to give him the sole responsibility of the entire organization (if I may assign “Dholakpur” village as that) each time he meets an adversity! Chota Bheem, who is constantly battling all odds and upstarts to keep the “best employee”/“best citizen” award on his crown intact, is, deemed nothing but an half-witted individual according to me. He rises to the occasion each time his government/supervisor resigns to his fate; he wards off malignant forces that time an again threaten his nation or the organization, does tasks which are otherwis...

“Secret Superstar” a film that the nation is going gaga over is a story of any other Indian girl whose life has no real celebration, whose life has no purpose, the only one being satiating her husband in every possible means! Don’t we have abundance of “Inziyas” around the society? They are the girls whose birth isn’t anticipated much, whose self esteem is crippled and crushed, whose wishes and desires die a muffled death. And these are initiated at the hands of their own kith and kin! The film revolves around a young girl’s sole aspiration of becoming a renowned singing sensation, that gets brutally trampled by the male chauvinist ego of her father; a father who believes in acting as an autocratic force of power in the entire household; a father who bashes his wife at the drop of a hat; a father who becomes the flag bearer of extreme favoritism towards the male child. The film is Inziya’s single handed struggle to fulfill her dream and also free her mother from her perpetrating par...

"Jagga Jasoos" a cinematic marvel by none other than Anurag Basu. The "Barfi" man just to reiterate his cinematic excellence. Each time he leaves his audience craving for more if not anything! "Jagga Jasoos", a much deliberated, delayed but awaited movie of the year caters to each of the human senses transporting us to the picturesque locales which again has been meticulously selected just as the star cast. A cast with the likes of Ranbir Kapoor, Saswata 'Bob Biswas' Chatterjee, Saurabh Shukla, Rajatava Dutta can recreate nothing but the best! The dialogue delivery, specially by Ranbir Kapoor the protagonist, Jagga, in the form of music, which deftly camouflages his stammers is brilliant and first of its kind. In spite of the ensemble cast, two individuals who shoulder the film from inception to conclusion is Ranbir Kapoor and Saswata Chatterjee! The film may/may not cater to the masses but it would certainly go down deep into the hearts of t...