Idle musings

A quote I recently read by acclaimed director David Lynch seemed to mirror an astronaut's (unfortunately i do not recollect his name) statement from the Chilean film, Nostalgia for the Light , directed by Patricio Guzman. The movie chronicles the relentless search of women for the remains of their loved ones, gone prey to Pinochet's atrocities, in the Atacama desert. (Augusto Pinochet ruled Chile under a dictatorship from 1973 to 1990). Women who exhibit such inner strength and grit, some who have been searching for closure for almost three decades. Their stories are narrated alongside mankind's probing of the sky(astronomy) and the earth(archaeology) to trace the origin of life. Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/0VEIeAa6DiM Now here are the quotes: "I don't know why people expect art to make sense. They accept that life doesn't make sense." (David Lynch) "People understand astronauts, but they fail to understand these women." (From ...

Better late than never. Majid Majidi's latest directorial, supposedly a sequel to his Children of Heaven(1997) , is a beautiful film about family bonds, especially those between siblings. Ishaan Khatter makes an astonishing debut as Amir, a drug-dealing teenager, and Malavika Mohanan, who failed to create much waves back south, delivers a surprisingly good performance as his estranged sister, Tara. Akshi's extended family provide some unforgettable, heart-warming moments in the film. The vibrancy of Bombay's streets have been beautifully captured by Anil Mehta. I hope atleast a few of you watched this gem, by one of Iran's best creative minds, in theatres during the short while it lasted.

This surprisingly touching film,directed by Umesh Shukla, is about keeping the child alive inside you, though wrinkles may appear and greys creep up, on the outside. Who wouldn't wish to have a Dattatraya Vakharia at home? But the harder part is to be one ourselves. Let's try to go, "Yo!" like Big B! This roller-coaster ride of a film also touches upon contemporary issues associated with old age, as well as age-old ones. Assuredly, you will leave the theatre with a satisfied smile plastered to your face, marvelling at the talent that is Amitabh Bachchan.

Raazi can easily be called Alia Bhatt's finest performance till date. Meghna Gulzar's direction is impeccable, the story keeps our blood racing, clutching onto our seats, desperately rooting for Sehmat. 'Ae Watan' is a track I found very haunting, especially the Arijit Singh version played out during the end credits, though the children's performance was very moving indeed. As the posters declare, Alia plays a spy in the movie. And what a performance too. Especially that scene where she breaks down towards the end. SPOILERS AHEAD The movie is a tribute to all the anonymous warriors out there, who keep us safe in our homes without our knowing or acknowledging it. I have always felt that we don't give our soldiers the credit they deserve. And this film reveals how there are different types of warriors fighting for our country, and not only on the borders. I suppose many will attribute Sehmat's failures to her femininity. Oh, women don't have the grit ...

Be present in the moment. For, in recollection, carelessness might become unendurable.

Isn't it amusing how we actually enjoy reading prescribed texts outside the classroom, though we may abhor it during the lectures?

These are the things that I live for. A friendly wave after a long day at work. A warm smile in times of sorrow. A reassuring hand in moments of weakness. These moments when humanity shines through, These are the moments that I live for.

There is something deeply moving about watching a person draw their last breath. Now this might be a loved one you have been taking care of for a long time, or a stranger seeking empathy, sensing the end is near, and craving a reassuring hand during the final moments of their life. Either way, feeling the strong grip slacken, the chest rising for one last gasp of air, the coldness creeping into the flesh, and seeing life ebb away from the eyes...is both incredibly saddening and terrifying. One might feel suffocated with sobs or want to run away screaming, faced with this most inexplicable of truths - death.

Do you remember when YouTube released its offline feature a few years ago, the ad showcased people staring at buffering screens, mimicking the movement (Loading..) with their heads? I think the whole of modern life has become like that. A series of waitings. You get up in the morning, head out to wherever it is you want to go, and find yourself caught in a long traffic jam. So you wait. Decide to get a coffee during a break from work? Wait in the line. Forget all that. You talk to a person. Now this is something essential to all of humanity, irrespective of class or gender. So you try to pick up conversation with someone, anyone, friend or stranger, and you've got to wait atleast a few minutes before they finally relent by lifting their heads up from their smartphones (they ironically seem to make people dumb) and giving you a reply. If you are lucky, that is. Else you might have to repeat yourself, or they make it clear that your presence is unwanted, or they ignore you altogethe...

Is it possible to miss something you never had?

In the hubbub of the rat race that has become our lives, we tend to forget the little joys of our younger days. Some call them hobbies. Needn't be anything cliché or high-brow. Just acts of creation or kindness that fills you with joy, and spreads smiles around. Be sure to indulge in them to steer away from the frustrations and disappointments of human existence.

Have you ever been able to step back and look at your life with a detached perspective? As if these things are not happening to you at all, and maybe not even in the present time or space?

There is a character named Jakub in Milan Kundera's novel, Farewell Waltz , who carries a poison tablet on his person, wherever he goes. It gives him the liberating feeling that he has the power whether to live or die, in his hands. Apply this scenario to real life, and I find it ludicrous. How many people have you heard of, apart from terrorists, who commit suicide without a second thought (Jakub survives, but that's not the point here). Even at the exact moment that we are prepared to face the end, don't all of us hope for a hand to reach out and pull us back into the bustle of life? And even if that doesn't happen, your sense of duty may hold you back. Because love is both a burden and a curse. Call me ungrateful, but those of you who have felt it is only a blessing, are truly lucky.