Idle musings

It might be a misconception that Punjabis break into dance moves at the drop of a hat, but Malayalis certainly seem to have taken it upon themselves to burst crackers on every other occasion.So do not worry if while conversing with someone, you hear sounds akin to gunfire close by. It is just the holiday spirit of the neighbours, not an enemy attack!

Remnants of an illustrious past. My sojourns in Hampi began on the early morning of the 4th of December. I took the liberty of sleeping in since the journey by bus the previous night had been tiring. By catching the 11.30 bus from Hospet to Hampi, I was inducted into the beautiful pathways that led to the ruins of the ancient Vijayanagara empire. I was awestruck to see a Banjara woman decked in silver jewellery and colourful garments(unfortunately, I was unable to take a good picture, but I have provided a similar image below - apart from that one image, all the others were photographed by myself). The difference can be spotted in the very streets. All the pretensions of city life are nowhere to be seen. One could say that Hampi is an ideal destination for history geeks, artists, and photographers. You could spend days and entire months here, sketching the innumerable relics or clicking rich frames on your camera. I am not well-informed regarding the history of the place or th...

I used to harbour the naive thought that I am a ball of contradictions, until I realized that that is a description which fits most people.

Each stage in a man's life seems to be connected to a different mode of transport, atleast in the 21st century. A toddler cycles, then walks, but by the time he hits late teenage years, he insists on getting a motor vehicle. Once he or she has cinched their position in the career network, they cannot be travelling in anything short of a four-wheeler, and a swanky one at that. Reaching one's workplace becomes a strut and not a stroll. Hardly anyone remembers the good old days of walking for miles to reach one's destination. Modes of travel are no more about utility. They are status symbols by means of which we arrogantly combust our low-running fossil fuels.

I think we tend to underestimate the role of mechanical jobs in our lives. Spending time with oneself, doing laundry, cleaning the house or taking a stroll can actually help you introspect on life and see where you stand in the scheme of things.

I think that despite all this talk of "moving on" and making peace with what is gone, most of us do have a fixation with the past. Why else is there a constant hearkening after "the good ol' days"? Why do we take joy in recollecting or revisiting the past? Haven't you noticed how a fond smile creeps on the face when someone is reminiscing about past experiences? It must mean that worldly people cannot fully let go of what is done and dusted. We feel the need to constantly reassess and rethink all those "what if's."

Do not believe the things you say to yourself when you are emotionally at your lowest. As they say, don't make a decision when you are joyous, don't give a promise when you are sad and don't speak when you are furious. Don't be your own worst enemy.

“Sure, cried the tenant men, but it’s our land…We were born on it, and we got killed on it, died on it. Even if it’s no good, it’s still ours….That’s what makes ownership, not a paper with numbers on it." "We’re sorry. It’s not us. It’s the monster. The bank isn’t like a man." "Yes, but the bank is only made of men." "No, you’re wrong there—quite wrong there. The bank is something else than men. It happens that every man in a bank hates what the bank does, and yet the bank does it. The bank is something more than men, I tell you. It’s the monster. Men made it, but they can’t control it.”  "...There is a crime here that goes beyond denunciation. There is a sorrow here that weeping cannot symbolize. There is a failure here that topples all our success." - The Grapes of Wrath , John Steinbeck That man was a visionary, I tell you. This book is pure gold.

One thing about writing is, it is interpreted by every reader in their own way. Once your book goes into the press, your role is complete. You cannot make any immediate corrections. Now all that can be done is to await the reader's verdict. I guess it feels like standing before a firing squad, or awaiting a court trial, especially if it is your first publication. It can be a boon or bane, depending on how you look at it. Of course, the possibility of multiple interpretations can be exhilarating, and can open up new dimensions to your work.   Let us take a look at how it can be a bane: Sometimes, inspirational quotes and stories are internalized by the wrong people. Here again, 'wrong' is a very relative term. It has a different definition for every person. To elucidate my point, here is an example: Consider two people trapped in a toxic relationship. The person who holds the upper hand in the relationship, who considers his/her actions to be completely justified, reads ...

To those of you who pretend to dislike the people or things you love, to earn a new 'friend's' approval - don't do it. To those of you who poise to slash your wrists when a person unexpectedly leaves your life - don't do it. To those of you who idolize celebrities and skip meals to acquire toned bodies - don't do it. To those of you who resort to drugs to forget parental abuse - don't do it. And to countless other survivors and the loved ones of those who gave in. Talk to someone. Find someone who cares, because they are out there. Push yourself to think beyond the immediate future and the relevance of the incident in question many years from now (might sound totally cliched, but try it before you negate me). Make yourself take baby steps and go about normal tasks of the day. JUST DO IT. Scream, cry if you have to. But once that tide subsides, take a deep breath, pick yourself up and walk out there. Prove to yourself (Yes, yourself, over anybody el...

After a certain age, different for every person, every individual is ready to accept another person into their space. Of course, even as a 16-year old we might be deluded into believing that we are mentally and physically prepared to take that leap. But that is not what I propose to talk about here.This intimacy(in the broad sense of the term) between man and woman is necessary for the seasoning for anyone's mind. It chisels the rough edges in our behaviour. All of us have noticed how suddenly everything seems brighter when we feel loved and cared for. Nothing could go wrong for us in those times. Even the staunch pessimist could brush away troubles which they would have normally made a fuss over, I imagine. No one wants to invite pain upon themselves, but the question is, do you want to end up being a bitter old soul, scowling at every other couple (young or old) and bawling your heart out afterwards, when no one is watching? I do not imply the age-old notions that every individ...

Selfishness is not just making a fake excuse to get ahead in the queue, relying on a loved one to make that much-awaited cup of coffee or prioritizing your comforts(these are just some of the instances that come to mind at the moment).  You are being selfish when you confess an act you are guilty of, to someone else. You prevented bursting at the seams by getting that weight off your chest. And now the impetus is on the listener to help you make the right judgement. You are being selfish when you refuse to pick up that call from your parents when you are hanging out with your newfound friends. So many other actions that don't scream selflessness either. It amazes me to what elemental levels selfishness seeps.

"ഇടിമിന്നലും മഴയും ഭൂമിയിലേക്ക് ഇറങ്ങി വന്ന ഒരു രാത്രിയായിരുന്നു അത്.." On nights like these, you cannot help but wonder if the great Zeus is indeed livid with humans and has unleashed the thunderbolt upon us. With the rain lashing down, the wind howling, and thunder and lightning seeming to break apart the very earth, how can one not think about the impending apocalypse? Nevertheless, this symphony-turned-cacophony of nature was strangely enjoyable. Let me recollect the words of better craftsmen on this occasion: "To cease upon the midnight with no pain..." ( Ode to a Nightingale , Keats) "Wild Spirit, which art moving everywhere,  Destroyer and Preserver, hear, O hear!"     ( Ode to the West Wind , Shelley)  "Throw away thy rod;    Though man frailties hath    Thou art God:    Throw away thy wrath."( Discipline , George Herbert)   And now, for the lack of translational skills on my part- നിരത്തിൽ വാഹനങ്ങൾ പ...

Qarib Qarib Single (Just About Single) Finally, a realistic rom-com that does not follow the formulae of mainstream Bollwood! Yes! Do not be put off by the tag 'rom-com', though. Because this charming tale woven by Tanuja Chandra and beautifully enacted by a terrific Parvathy and Irrfan, is more than that. Speckled with light-hearted humour and anecdotes on life is a slice-of-life tale of revisiting the past and realizing the unexpected ways in which the heart(and the internet, for good measure) works. The endearing storyline, which is on the lines of a Hollywood romance flick (in its unconventionality), and yet sticking to subtleties, is complemented by a good soundtrack. My favourites are Tanha Beegum and Tu Chale Toh. While Parvathy looks terrific in playing the part of Jaya,a modern-day widow, Irrfan effortlessly portrays Yogi, an old-world gentleman who is full of surprises and takes Jaya on a life-changing journey. Again, what is that magic in journeys?? No one would...

The whirring of an automobile engine is more frightening than the roar of a tiger!

Never make the mistake of taking your friends for granted. Do not do stupid things like staring at your phone when they are with you and ignoring their company as a result. Because when you place momentary distractions like that above people who have put up with you for so long, listened to your rants, and held your hands in times of trouble - when you prefer the artificial brightness to the light outside - that is when you know you have failed at life.

You know what a person who is sick at heart desires first and foremost? Not white coats or degrees, but the company of a person who, without judging, listens to their venting patiently, and hopefully, offers viable tackling methods. But the former point is most important: paying attention. After all, it is our inability to listen to our fellow-beings that has created this growing number of people with mental illness. Of course, when one broaches this subject, the first issue to be tackled is the taboo surrounding it. How mental health is not given the importance it deserves, especially in this digital age, where social media popularity decides a person's self -esteem. How de-addiction centres for alcohol or drug abuse are common but obsessive use of smartphones only leads to ugly fights indoors. How anyone who confesses to being depressed is treated as an insane outcast. Snap out of it, people! Banish your ignorance. Read up, watch videos or whatever and be informed! Pay atten...

Our sense of smell is inextricably linked to memories. The odour of a particular dish, the smell of burning wood, a whiff of a long-forgotten perfume or the scent of a particular kind of cloth - so many myriad combinations, the slightest of things, can trigger old memories. A loved one who is no more, an estranged relation or a tragedy in the past. Anything at all that startles you out of the present and turns the reel back in time, drawing a veil over your eyes and blocking out the here and now.

I've been toying with the idea that maybe man is not a social being after all. Isn't it when we grow closer to people that we start scrutinizing their faults and start picking arguments? Maybe if we keep others at a distance, modern man will be at peace.  We find inanimate inventions better worth our time than people who have cared for us all our lives. I recently read about how social media users feel confident on these virtual platforms, where people are supportive of each other, but they fear to venture out into the real world, where attitudes are the exact opposite. With the coming of the first robotic citizen and so forth, I wouldn't be surprised if man became entirely devoid of emotions. Reading Brave New World and 1984 gives serious chills in this time of speculation.

Solitude can be therapeutic. It's like how they say, the poor are not actually unhappy. In fact, they are better off than those who live under this misconception.  Those days when the air gets stuck in your lungs, and you can't scream or cry, or talk like a sane person - those days could end up stimulating your creative juices. So remember to hold on. Even this will pass.

At the end of the day, what all of us crave for is a listening ear and a caring heart. Someone who willingly lends an ear to our griefs and complaints, who sighs or gives a sympathetic nod at the right moments and makes us feel that the world is not such a wretched place after all. We are only human. Ultimately, our troubles lead to the heart. Ah, that troublesome marauder!

The Sun is in a way, a protector of women in our society. When He shines, women can venture out safely, and when he is away brightening other horizons, they better stay indoors, or rather that is the norm.

He swept her off her feet, just as a strong wind blew away the dark clouds and the steady drizzle that cloudy evening. Yes, sometimes I come up with strange metaphors.

Everything in nature spells out coexistence. An abandoned car or plot is soon covered by weeds and snakes. A ramshackle house open to the elements comes to be inhabited by anything but humans. Notice how trees spread their branches far and wide to provide us shade, even on busy roads? They do not differentiate between the businessman in his car or the man in rags seeking alms. All are treated equally by Nature. It is humanity that draws the multiple lines of division. And yet how thoughtlessly do we cut down those very trees, those ancient pedagogues that have lined our streets and smiled down upon us for so many years!

Music. Moments of truth created by passionate artists voicing the troubles of their generation. Recorded moments that we go back to, when we are 'suffering' from heartache arising out of selfishness. We plug in our headphones and are surrounded by truth when we ourselves do not have the courage to express it.

You know how lucky you are when you can come out of a hospital smiling. *June 5, 2016*

"By the twiddling of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes." Here, I take the liberty to rephrase the Bard (the actual line from Macbeth - spoken by the witches -reads 'pricking of my thumbs') to suit the modern context. My apologies to ardent lovers of Shakespeare. All of us know that smartphones have become inextricably linked with modern life. You can hardly find someone - be it inside an elevator, on the streets, or anywhere you look for that matter - without their cellphone plastered to their ears or glued to their eyes. People from young kids to the elderly can be found holding gadgets of different sizes, doing all sorts of things. The level of self-absorption is alarming sometimes. The World is too much with us !(Wordsworth) I read the other day about a suicide helpline catering mainly to suicide callers. The volunteers stated that some of the callers just wanted to hear another human voice, and they would immediately hang up. How we have grown apar...

One thing I've learned in life is that you can't drill into another person's mind an idea of yours(be it a solution to a problem, a new course of action or anything intended for the latter's good) without their mind actually thinking about it and accepting it as the best decision for themselves.

Have you noticed how dreams change over the years? We dream of becoming astronauts and engineers when we are six. Which then either change track into 'artists' and 'doctors', or the realization hits that the subjects in question are no longer to your liking. The path to achieving your ambition is not what you dreamt it to be. So you opt a different stream to find your calling, or slightly change up your plans. It all depends on the people you surround yourself with, and your receptivity to opportunities and experiences.

Life becomes a robotic existence. You move from one task to the next and do what is expected of you. And in between, you need to find the outlets to scream and cry and glee.

Sadness is a quagmire that readily draws you in at the slightest hint of unease. You wallow in it, let it swallow you up and your eyes run dry. When you finally let the light back in and your lips curve up, you realize a little late that grief stimulates your muse and art emerges forth. Strange are the ways in which our minds work!

It is almost always about a troubled childhood. In Sons and Lovers , Paul is the victim of said scenario. He is so troubled by the abuse showered on his mother that his protective instinct takes over, to such an extent as to transcend the accepted borders of the mother-son relationship. Gertrude, on the other hand, is highly possessive of her son and seeks in him the security and companionship that her husband failed to offer. 

Maintaining human relations is a delicate affair. People can boost your confidence as well as shatter it in a second. Do not let your mind dwell on the silences or the unsaid. Pull out the weeds of doubt and sprinkle your thoughts with positivity.

Sometimes, gazing at the clouds, one can't help but wonder if an army of them aren't following the Sun god, as He lights his mythical golden chariot, drawn by seven majestic horses. At the outset, we see only dark wisps floating gradually over an azure sky, though, which is nevertheless captivating enough to elevate us to flights of imagination.

Enough has been said about the need for humanity to slow down and take a breath from time to time. Take for example something as simple as a bus ride, something that might seem mundane, but can be done a little differently if you think about it. I am not claiming that travelling by bus through the dusty,clogged and often stinking streets of the city, barrelling ahead through honking traffic is romantic, but you could change up the pattern. Start out early in the morning, catch a different bus, take a different route, or choose to travel by train. Befriend a stranger. Gift an unsuspecting child selling knicknacks. Look outside and see life brimming around you. Feel amazed at how you missed so much for so long!

Why be arrogant? Anything could happen to you at a given moment of time. A piece of metal could fly into your eyes. You could sprain your ankle while walking out with your first paycheck, get pickpocketed or get run over by a speeding truck. Life can change in a matter of seconds. Be humble, always.

The smooth hands of slumber swept her in as the leaves tilted to the breeze and soft music poured in from elsewhere.

These days, the fact that people are increasingly attached to their possessions could not be clearer. You judge if someone is home by the presence or absence of their vehicle(s) on the porch. You assume someone is free if they are 'online'. Do go through this relevant piece written by Pico Iyer: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pico-iyer-author-technology-human-beings-india-today-conclave-2017/1/910748.html

Recently, I saw an ad of a renowned builder banking on sentiments (again), with a father declaring the need for his son to be connected to the earth - to walk barefoot on the soil, feel the rain, et cetera. You get the picture. Of course, your kids can do that only if they live in posh villas in the heart of the city. Splendid idea. Groundbreaking, really. Here's another one - a major electronics company has come up with a unique idea - artificial light according to the time of day. How convenient! You don't have to step out of your four walls and see the sun at all. One more reason to stay glued to your smartphone. Why am I even surprised? The way multiplexes cash in by cluttering one's movie-watching experience with tiring commercials is incomprehensible. As if the repeated cosmetics and tobacco ads are not enough, there are movie promotions and the exhibitor's self-promotion. It's exhausting.The newest development is a 'loo break' a.k.a intermission af...

Notice the little ways in which nature lights up our world. Birds resting in a row on a flexboard flying off like an erupting waterfall. Pigeons, eagles, crows and other birds co-existing with our sedentary life. The wind caressing treetops and grass fronds, making them tilt their heads and do a little dance, unique to every plant.Sunlight filtering through the leaves of trees, making them shine like jewels. Or sunlight creating a stark silhouette of a tree that has shed all its leaves. How the rays make even tiny curly haird on a person's forehead stand out in golden hues. How trees on oppisite sides of a path extend their branches and give each other a handshake. Even trees that have shed their leaves have a certain majesty. Everything the sunrays touch turn beautiful to the human eye, even manmade things. It is proof of how far nature has put up (and still does) with man's exploitation. It is a shame that few notice the sun when both his arrival and departure in our world...

Gazing at the congested roads in the city one day made me contemplate on the idea that man enjoys shutting himself up in boxes. Think about it - cars, houses, planes, malls...just about everything about modern man seems to point to this. I'm surprised and impressed that the "idiot box" hasn't wiped out the radio as of yet.

How people change! People whom you've literally grown up with become strangers within a span of days. Exposure to money and glamour transform them. People whom you considered your closest friends seem to have no problem waking up one morning and cutting all contact with you. People whom you thought you knew, whom you believed you could trust no matter what, can wound you in a second. Sometimes we forget that love is a double-edged sword. It is an unspoken belief that we hold on to, that these people, will pay heed to our qualms, will stay with us through thick and thin, and will not hurt us on purpose. People can change their priorities in a flash, so learn to be comfortable in your own company.

Frankly, Ranjit Tiwari's  Lucknow Central is a little disappointing. With talent like Farhan Akhtar, Deepak Dobriyal, Rajesh Sharma and Ronit Roy onboard, the movie could have been more effective. The trailer promised a powerful story about music freeing the imprisoned, which is not lived up to. And for a film whose protagonist who is passionate about making it big in the music industry, the album could have been better as well. Watching the film, one feels like the script rushes on while banking too much on the viewer's suspending their disbeliefs for two and a half hours. Nevertheless, it does have its moments, especially the scenes with Deepak Dobriyal, Rajesh Sharma and the comical Ravi Kishan. Farhan Akhtar does justice to his character but Diana Penty just manages to impersonate the purposeful journalist who aids in his seemingly impossible dream attain fruition.

Man has always been fascinated with the idea of flying. The story of the Wright brothers is history and I suppose most of you have travelled by plane at least once. Recently, I was struck by the idea that even skyscrapers could have been triggered by the wish to see things from an altitude, to have a feeling of being above all others, suspended in the air. Writing this brings to mind a meaningful quote - "I always wonder why birds stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on the earth. Then I ask myself the same question." Food for thought, folks! Chew on it. Watching the sunrise from above the clouds is a surreal experience. It almost feels like you're in the heavens, among the Gods (where they supposedly reside). How else did you get to witness such a beautiful, exclusive sight? I would recommend this experience to anyone and everyone listening, whether up in the air or down on the earth. Try it, it's worth shirking a few hours of sleep!

Have you ever thought about how many of our experiences are a result of the selfishness of others? It might range from the most trivial thing to the most serious. A certain student's misdemeanour results in a school ruling out long excursions in the future, or making the school unisex. A father's selfishness makes him marry off his daughter at a young age. An official's leaving his desk to flirt with a colleague or to catch an early lunch results in a long queue, with the poor people keeping aside their tasks for the day to get some paperwork done. A parent having an affair brushes aside an opportunity to spend some time with their children, unthinking of the possible effects on the latter's mental health. A terrorist group's motives brings about nationwide alarm and the need for thousands of men to risk their lives everyday on the borders. How some have to clean up after other people just because we cannot bother to put an empty water bottle in the trashcan ...

I often find myself thinking about the human predicament.  People suffering in loveless relationships on one side of the planet while others pine for a loved one, even waste away in isolation. The financially well-off revelling in the high life, partying, wasting food, abusing women and polluting nature, as opposed to the so-called poor or illiterate, or the aboriginals, who are wealthy in the things that matter, such as their worship of all things natural. The children who don't get a shot at life because of being diagnosed with cancer at birth, because of malnutrition, because of nuclear war, or rape by a family member. The people who literally live on the streets in contrast to those who charade as being deprived and add to their hoardings back home. The new 'mall culture' which fosters a brand consciousness, radically changing the lifestyle of a simpler people, effectively handing over the reins to faraway corporations, while low-key shopkeepers lose their until-then...

Christopher Nolan's 'Dunkirk', the World War II period drama, definitely steers away from the normal course of war movies. There is no f uror  heroicus. In fact, there is no hero in the conventional sense. Here, it is the common man who comes to the rescue of helpless soldiers. Dunkirk is a glimpse into the reality of war. It makes you fearful and wary of fate. It tells you that sometimes, survival is victory. Hans Zimmer's poignant music and astonishing cinematography by Hoyte van Hoytema make watching the film a visceral experience. The dialogues are kept to a minimum; the ravages of war and the ensuing action tell the tale. Described by critics as "immersive" and "riveting", 'Dunkirk' is a deeply moving tale of hope and survival. As Harry Styles(who plays Alex) put it in an interview, it is also about the human spirit and how when people come together, incredible things happen. Tales like these need to be told. Christopher Nolan charts a...

What the forests of Kerala have been turned into in the name of tourism never fails to shock me. Building plans are approved in sensitive landscapes without analyzing potential consequences of the same, and when later years bring suffering upon us, we wonder why. While it is true that tourists require options of stay, the fact remains that the rightful habitat of the original inhabitants, that is, various species of flora and fauna, are destroyed for this purpose.It is bad enough that we have recklessly expanded our cities under claims of 'development'. And where has the hue and cry of 'sustainability' gone, pray? We can only go on for so long after losing tree cover and endangering biodiversity. Even planting trees for the lost greenery remains a charade. As for those who barrel into the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, eager to confront tigers and elephants just for the adrenaline rush or for the 'likes' on social media, these seekers of "bubbl...

Jagga Jasoos is a feast for the eyes. Anurag Basu's second collaboration with the acting powerhouse that is Ranbir Kapoor(after Barfi! in 2012) is as engaging as it is inventive. Ranbir is undoubtedly the best actor of his generation and he has only reaffirmed that he is the king of quirky roles through this long overdue film - it has been in the works for three and a half years. While Barfi! evocatively dealt with the life of the differently abled, Jagga Jasoos, as the name suggests , is a detective story. But more than the sleuths, it is the musicality of the film that is its most striking quality. Jagga finds it easier to converse using the 'creative' side of his brain since he was born with a stutter. Pay attention to the lines penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya and you will find yourselves alternatively cracking up (no, I'm not talking about 'Galti se mistake' or 'Ullu ka pattha'. Try listening to 'Khaana Khaake' instead, or better, watch t...

ചില കാര്യങ്ങള് മാതൃഭാഷയി ൽ  തന്നെ പറയണം. ആയതിനാൽ ഈ പോസ്റ്റ്റ്റ് മലയാളത്തിലായിരിക്കും.തെറ്റുകളുണ്ടെങ്കിൽ ക്ഷമിക്കണം. കുറച്ചു വൈകിയാണെങ്കിലും 'ഗോദ'('Godha')  കണ്ടു. *പടം കാണാത്തവർ തുടര്ന്നു വായിച്ചാല് സസ്പെൻസ് പൊളിയും.* ബേസിൽ ജോസഫ് ഇന്ന് കേരളത്തിൻറെ അഭിമാനമാണ്, ആ നാടിന് അദിതി എന്നപോലെ.അദ്ദേഹം സിനിമ പഠിച്ചിട്ടില്ല, പക്ഷേ സിനിമയോടുള്ള അഭിനിവേശവും അധ്വാനവും വിജയം നേടിക്കൊടുത്തു. നമ്മുടെ കേരളത്തിലും 'Dangal' പോലെയുള്ള ചിത്രങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ടാകും, അവ പ്രേക്ഷകർ വിജയിപ്പിക്കും, എന്നതിനുള്ള തെളിവാണ് ഈ സിനിമ (ഗുസ്തിയുടെ ബന്ധത്തിൽ മാത്രമാണ് Dangal നെ കുറിച്ച് പറഞ്ഞത് ). 'കുഞ്ഞിരാമായണം' ചിരിപ്പടക്കം ആയിരുന്നു എങ്കിൽ 'ഗോദ' സ്വപ്നങ്ങളേ കുറിച്ചുള്ള ഒരു സിനിമ ആണ്.  ഗുസ്തിയും പ്രണയവും മാറ്റി വെച്ചാൽ കുറച്ചു മനുഷ്യരുടെ സ്വപ്നസാക്ഷാത്ക്കാരത്തിന്റെ കഥയാണ് ഗോദയിൽ അരങ്ങേറുന്നത്.ഗുസ്തിയുടെ  വലിയൊരു ചരിത്രം ഉള്ള നാട്ടിൽ ആ കായികത്തിനു വീണ്ടും പിറക്കാൻ ഒരു മറുനാടൻ പെണ്കുട്ടിയുടെ ദൃഢനിശ്ചയം സഹായമായി. വമീഖ ഗബ്ബിയുടെ ഒരു ക്ലോസ് അപ്പ്‌ ഷോട്ട് ഉണ്ട് ആദ്യ പകുതിയിൽ - പ്രായപൂർത്തിയായ ...

Pehle acha insaan bano . This is a statement reiterated in our spiritual poems, often revealed as a trait of all successful men.Those who take the time to be good humans first, get their way in life's pursuits.But this practice is not to be taken lightly, since it is in no way, easy. To be human is to tolerate your fellow-beings,among other hardships. Yes, I use 'tolerate' instead of, say, 'love' because love is not in the equation anymore for a majority of us , is it? Love for gadgets, maybe, but not towards the person sitting next to you. It has become increasingly difficult to put up with the human race.If only you would take a moment to lift your eyes from the all-too-consuming screen, look at your neighbour in the eye, and ask them what  their day has been like, or offer a helping hand,if required. It does not matter if you're at home, on a train, or on a footpath. Use your eyes and SEE. I could go on regarding the loss of human values and such, like I was...

If you want to be spared of the crowds and impractical romances onscreen, do watch   Hindi Medium , directed by Saket Chaudhary and starring Irrfan and Saba Qamar in lead roles. The whole cast deserves much applause for their effort to convey a very relevant message. What starts out as the struggle of two parents to gain admission for their daughter in a top-notch school develops into a study of human nature,class distinction and the corrupted education system. Of the supporting cast, Deepak Dobriyal stands out with his moving performance. Rajesh Nair's 2015 directorial Salt Mango Tree ,though dealing with the same central issue,took a different route.

It is a beautiful feeling when you get to see another person express their talent. Especially if said talent involves music. Watching musicians , the vocalists and instrumentalists ,perform together and enjoy their performance to the fullest, is a soul-elevating experience. 

Soldiers who wear their patriotism on their sleeve and love their job are a rare breed. I was quite surprised to see one such man attend a popular talk-show recently. The usual flimflam was flung about, and my respect for him only rose as the disciplined man of action bore it all in good humour. Perhaps he sought to break some preconceived notions regarding men of war being rather 'serious'.Be that as it may, the glow in his eyes as he spoke of the past - his days as a commando, of covert operations and unsung heroes - was truly awe-inspiring. As the anchor ended the episode by going braggadocio, the military man still held up his dignity and stayed true to form as a picture of the perfect soldier. He was Major Ravi. One can only hope that such admirable fighters receive the respect they deserve.

Among the young dancers, one man entered and stole the limelight for a few hours.Or was it more? I don't know. He did not seem like a visitor; so effortlessly did he meld his movements with theirs. His knowledge was so different, and yet so similar. The man of the woods saw his dream's fruition as dance and martial arts came together in that small room - enrapturing the audience, uniting some of them in a flow of postures, evoking admiration in others, by his finesse. He inspired them to imbibe any learning into life, to love and protect nature, and to be socially responsible individuals. His leaving would not prevent the audience from remembering him. For men who sincerely adore this Earth, men of truth, cannot to be easily forgotten.

Are social gatherings relevant anymore?  Take marriages,for instance. Parents spent their life's savings on their child's wedding- which is often only a contract based on money. Either they see the wedlock as a final responsibility taken care of ,or as a means to a more luxurious life. And what happens at the destined venue? Girls - relatives and friends alike - compete to look their best and steal the show, while the bride herself is decked in gold and glittering garment, so that a stranger may get confused as to the identity of the true bride. Mothers huddle together to gossip or to compare outfits and accessories - Who wore it better? Who purchased the priciest gift? - and so on. Needless to say that modern technology has ensured that there is no sanctity left in this supposed holy communion of two souls. "Then there is mirth in heaven when earthly things made even atone together" - that is all of the past. The very concept of love has changed. A majority of th...

A Dog's Purpose( direction -Lasse Halstrom )  is an endearing watch for canine lovers.But here's the catch - since when does a dog reincarnate as another breed of dog, and still remember his first owner?Animals never search out the meaning or purpose of life,either.That's all in man's head - Biology 101,remember? There is the expected bonding between the human and their four-legged companion which presents some beautiful moments onscreen.What is disturbing, though, is that a man's way of thinking is projected through the mind of his pet - too much analyzing and purpose-seeking to seem real.Only when the credits rolled did I find out that the film was the adaptation of a book of the same title by Bruce Cameron, which released me from my ill-founded judgement. Atleast the storyline was tribute to man's love for his pet.And for love like that, forgiveness is readily given.Music by Rachel Portman and cinematography by Terry Stacey are truly lyrical and idyllic.Watc...

Take Off   is new turf for Malayalam cinema,and it is a laudable adaptation of true events, aided by powerful performances.But what struck me was the invariable tendency of people to remain selfish while cocooned in their spheres of comfort, as opposed to the selflessness which naturally expresses itself during a calamity.Do we really need to wait for a crisis to lend a hand to a suffering man nearby?!

It's a strange thing about memories.We may not realize we are creating some when we are having fun, but later, we introspect and build castles in the air, brooding on how it could have been better.It is not uncommon to deliberately search out a painful remembrance and submit to grief - as a form of catharsis,perhaps.And then,today,we go about finding innovative ways of recording life which only make us forget to live.Our priorities have been drastically altered.

People react to grief in different ways.Some carry the wounds and bitterness all their lives;retaliating at any seeming approach of hurt, whereas others emerge matured and eager to offer love and care to the needy.It is interesting to observe human behaviour and trace actions back to possible causes.Many inherent flaws are caused by a traumatic childhood.

We conform and comply to societal rules to maintain a balanced environment.Suppose you no longer had to care what people said.Free reign has been granted.Imagine the things that you and I would do.We would probably be surprised to find the littlest things we have curbed in order to satisfy complete strangers - starting with dressing, reaching upto career goals and more.I am not envisioning total anarchy,but a world where an individual can follow his heart without worrying about external opinion.But human nature seems to make this seem impossible, as does the idea of a utopian society.

Reading Steinbeck's masterpiece, East of Eden , transported me back to the time when there was virtually no machinery to aid man in his toils. A time minus telephones, modern farming equipment,even refrigeration.It got me thinking about how much we tend to take things for granted.Steinbeck makes it seem so real;we can't help feeling the joys of the simple life,even if we do not have such memories.His insight into the human mind and his relationship with nature,which he effortlessly melds into his writing,never fails to amaze me. Could not a pastoral life in the countryside be better than a life lived within four walls in dingy cities?Money and luxury are never a substitute for happiness and health.Touching as many people's lives as possible,knowing and loving nature - now these are deeds worthy of pride , not a corporate promotion or a new apartment.

The realization  that funerals are for the living came to me only recently.It is a logical conclusion - after all,the dead are going to stay dead. Once a person 'passes on to another realm',so to speak, they are no longer burdened by the sorrows of this world.Compared to us,they are better off.They are not going to return and haunt you with complaints of not having had even a proper funeral. There are things far worse than death,as an experienced man can well testify.Though we do not have solid evidence on this subject which continues to intrigue us, death is a leveller and a welcome deliverance from the evils of this world.

"Malls represent everything that is wrong with our culture",lamented a thespian in a recent Hindi film.I am going to try and analyze that statement with what I know of this scenario.Basically,malls are a place where the well-off see fit to wile away non-working hours.On the other side of the city,the poor and the deprived only stay unprivileged.I feel that these modernized versions of shopping complexes entice the gullible with flashy,avoidable things while huge sums of money are rolling in business. There is massive wastage of electricity - which can be utilized in power-starved areas of our land.Plus,we can't afford to lose existing energy sources when a scarcity is imminent. Exploitation of water - we know our tendency to take advantage of available resources,otherwise the oncoming crisis could be averted. Canvassing - creating a feeling that you don't fit in if you don't possess the latest brand apparel or whatever(the media,especially advertisements,also ...

Think 'survival drama' and the kind of films that come to mind would probably be on the lines of Castaway and 127 Hours . Fast forward to 2017, and Vikramaditya Motwane proves one doesn't necessarily require challenging terrain or literal isolation to unravel a film of this genre onscreen. Trapped, starring the immensely-talented Rajkummar Rao, tells the tale of a man who becomes cut off from the bustling city of Mumbai,when he inadvertently locks himself in his own flat.Although he fails to grasp the gravity of the situation for the first few hours, the ensuing days bring out his resourcefulness,pain and hopelessness. Rao very convincingly portrays the nuances of a character caught in this virtually impossible situation. If you like what you've read, and are convinced you want to watch the film,stop reading;there are spoilers ahead. On further thought,some realities of existence are brought to the fore - how nature offers a helping hand when your own kind are nowhe...

There's a grimness pervading all through James Mangold's   Logan , that foretells death. It was disheartening to see the unbreakable Wolverine resort to drugs and count down his days on earth. Where had all his fury and fervour disappeared to? Doubtless, he has been through a lot, and the sentimental,cliche ending works - after discovering he still has family,Logan dies without being able to be part of it.This is the 10th installment in the X-Men series,as well as the third,and last,Wolverine film featuring Hugh Jackman. Logan serves as a sombre farewell to the unforgettable character,though a little too dystopian for my taste.

He peeked at me from behind trees and buildings as our bus rushed ahead of the morning traffic.All the way to the destination,we were playing hide and seek.Now, he would be blocked from my view by a long array of buildings,or mountain ranges.Suddenly,he would emerge forth again,still as dazzling as I saw him any day,dutifully waking up the world.He was the Sun - prepossessing,powerful and perpetual.

First off, thank you, Garth Davis, for not belonging to the usual stock of directors who perpetually shun India as a land of slums and poverty.Thank you too,Greig Fraser, for giving us such beautiful frames of our motherland.I couldn't be more grateful.Dustin O'Halloran and Hauschka's background score make watching 'Lion' a truly evocative experience.True, Dev Patel received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars for this film,and he has delivered a convincing performance,but to me,Sunny Pawar wins hands down.As a young Saroo ,roaming the streets of rural India, who becomes estranged from his family, the eight-year old is astounding with his survival instincts and adaptability.Abhishek Bharate as the elder Guddu is the image of a loving brother,and Kamla(Priyanka Bose) exemplifies the fact that the bonds of motherhood run deep .John(David Wenham) and Sue(Nicole Kidman)are the parents whom any child would hope to have.Lucy(Rooney Mara),along with the s...

The walls of the fort spread out over the vast horizon,twisting and turning around trees and leading the limbs to a majestic view of the landscape.The view was breathtaking - the setting sun lent its rays to  make the most ordinary of sights, extraordinary.The sunset shades made a golden glow touch upon distant lakes and buildings.The eye lapped up the scene as if it was a camera clicking a panorama.Squirrels ferreted by the ruins in search of food,while  pigeons gathered on the rocks looming over the ancient stone structures.There stood  a tree barren of its leaves,and yet it held on to its beauty.Farther away, children could be seen playing in a school compound,making merry under the last rays of the sun for the day.A flock of birds flew away in perfect formation,away,away,back home.Youngsters posed for photos beside a lamppost.Security guards sauntered near the steps leading up to other landmarks in the fort.Occasionally, a few stones would pelter off the age-old ramp...

Not for the first time, they gathered together to talk about their lives.There were only two other people around,and they were engrossed in their own conversation.So the  women poured their hearts out and shared shared misery and helplessness.It seemed as if the world was conspiring against them.Happiness was eluding them on a daily basis.No one could be trusted.One could never differentiate between words spoken sincerely or with malice.Life had become a series of betrayals,broken promises and disappointments.Reality was almost unbearable.There was nothing to look forward to;to help sustain oneself,to move on.Such drudgery.All they could do was to hope their tight-knit circle would stay the same,helping each other survive the hard times. Inshallah.

Those of you who have heard of the latest box-office clash of Raees vs.Kaabil are sure to have heard comments along these lines,regarding the former - "Shah Rukh Khan has never looked better!" and "This is the Shah Rukh we've been waiting for!"I would agree with both views.Baniye ka dimaag aur miyaanbhai ki daring - Raees is a sight for sore eyes(even if they are not exactly sore).Rahul Dholakia's practiced hand at direction combined with K.U.Mohanan's cinematography makes for a mass entertainer backed by a solid story. Shah Rukh impersonates the role of a tactical businessman with elan,wheareas Nawazuddin Siddiqui is impeccable as the police officer,Majmudar. Majmudar's relentless pursuit of Raees makes for a thrilling chase - especially since both men are extremely talented at their jobs.While Raees ceaselessly evades the law's grasp(with style,mind you),Majmudar's repeated relocations do not deter him in his attempts to keep Gujarat '...

I fail to understand 'modern' humanity. We ceaselessly ignore things that come easily to us,like love and mutual support for our fellow beings, and try to be sophisticated.We believe we are in a higher plane of existence,living a better life, while all we do is just exploit each other and our habitat.The result?Increasingly, more and more people across the globe experience unrest,physically and mentally. Less than a  century ago,it was perfectly normal or rather, humane, to want to help someone in trouble,to do manual labour, to offer emotional support for an ailing heart,respect for nature - the things that originally established a society of humans in this world - real coexistence.But these seem alien to at least some of us today.To be humane is considered ridiculous,unnecessary.Nature was created to be recklessly plundered by man.And then you conduct experiments and arrive at conclusions - junk food is unhealthy,selfishness breeds bitterness and depression,erosion of value...

"I n the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy,growing heavy for the vintage ." John Steinbeck writes with a deep understanding of the common man's suffering, during the years of migrancy, when people from states like Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas were tractored out of their lands,and were forced to moved West, in hopes of  settling down among the pretty orchards and cotton fields of California.Instead, what greeted them were the hatred of the natives, scarce job opportunities and terrible living conditions.Steinbeck's Nobel- and Pulitzer-prize winning 1939 novel is an enduring classic, which portrays how the inherent goodness in man is brought out in times of collective crisis, and how man's will can fuel revolutions,leading him to live on in spite of setbacks in life.A truly touching,beautiful work,which will stay with you forever.The past year 2016 came to a meaningful end for me with reading The Grapes of Wrath .Here's hop...

So many men,just dropping dead,disappearing amidst all the smoke and rubble.Fire spitting out of guns, burning men alive.Ceaseless shots fired.The very ground exploding under grenades.Fires,billowing smoke,and death everywhere.Men whose very intestines had been blown out.Men who had lost limbs.Decaying bodies being fed on by rats.Worms eating away at the eyes of a dead man.Countless bodies piled away on top of each other. And then came a man who faced such inhuman violence, sans weapons.He enters the bleak battlefield as a combat medic,with nothing but a helmet and medical supplies.He keeps going back there to save men fallen in battle,the only thing keeping him going being the need to save, "one more".He saved 76 of his fellow soldiers in the the Battle of Okinawa,during World War II.The Conscientious Objector - presumed to be a coward, a thin "cornstalk" to be protected from high winds - became the bravest man to serve the US military,to such an extent that the ...