Room No. 428 And Beyond

I have always wanted to be away from my home for several reasons. So, I got into SIMC, Pune, considerably away from Ambala. Hostel life had always fascinated me and I wanted to get into my room as soon as I reached my campus.

Room No. 428, a home away from home, as cliche as it may sound, is the place which will hold a special place in my heart forever, until some deadly disease puts its foot down. My first hostel room, and probably the second last, thank heavens that I have another year of post graduation left. 

I have been completely myself, only here at Lavale Campus, I have been happy before, but there is a serenity in that bliss over here, probably a hill can do that to you sometimes. With friends and family not to bother you, you get to explore your surroundings freely, and more importantly, to discover yourself and life.
I started blogging, I could finally swim in a pool which I need not clean before jumping in, I performed on stage for the first time, I spent an entire day at a bookstore, started regularly jogging, took a train journey with friends for the first time. Recently, became a part of a huge college fest, experienced for the first time a live band experience, embellished with the memory of me jumping and dancing on the stage with friends, topless. Finally, went to a beach after a long wait of eight years.

Click to Enlarge

Also, importantly, met and made amazing friends, talented, with beautiful hearts. Their company, support, and care have made my room and everything on this campus, heavenly. People do not like the fact that I call my room my home, for the definition vary as do the individuals. I call it my home, as it allows me to return to it, as if am going back home itself, obviously there is the bed, which doesn't ever crib or complain. Then there are the wonderful and irritating roommates, bakar, festival and apna himesh, 428 diaries is an another chapter.

Also, there are other friends also; celebrations, conversations, food, classes, everything is double or rather, the joy, with them only. During festivals and drinks trips just down the hill, the entire batch becomes a family, figuratively, we at least at that time, forget everything and dance with abandon. I do not drink, these dance sessions, other than the things that make me happy, make me high and I become a replica of a drunk guy. I become overly friendly, loud and obscene.

And most importantly, there is so much space on this hill, both in terms of hectares and the space people give you. The added incentive of beautiful weather in the evenings almost throughout the year, I do not mind rains unlike my friends; music and smiling faces (I have an affinity to locate smiling faces), make the hill, more than a college campus. A stroll brings profound joy, and similarly, the still-silent campus at night.

All the experiences, mostly good and bad, makes up the magic, the magic which the hill is to my life.

Highway Movie Review - Everyone Has A Story To Tell

My house is located, almost at a junction of three states and three highways, so to go anywhere in the city or outside, I have to transverse on at least two. And I enjoy travelling, exploration and journeys are one of the things, that I value when I look back at my life.

I mentioned this because Highway is one movie that would make you reflect a lot, that too a lot many things and wonder about the wonders of your journey  so far. However, the movie may leave you confused.

The Performances

The review will be replete with such instances and personal memoirs because Highway touches many chords, a different one for everyone. Alia Bhatt is a carefree, flying, emotional and eloquent bird, she does have something to tell, which she reveals through the course of the movie. She says that she doesn't wish to go back, neither she wants to reach the destination, she wishes to relish the journey. Alia, once out of her house, is finally able to express her dream, she eventually could fulfill it, but a lot does happen in between, and that what the movie is about. Alia excels in the performance, there is bucket full of emotions for her to show, she does it commendably, expectations increase hence. 

Randeep Hooda, with his one nostril always flared up, taned skin, rugged look, perfect accent, is very convincing. He hardly speaks, is astounded by Alia's mannerisms and tantrums, something bothers him, (which is never revealed in the movie) and is disconnected from everyone around. Around us, don't we know at least one person who is held back, there is something that bothers him or her, rarely speaks the heart out, and could  break down when shown unexpected generosity and love. Randeep Hooda is that individual, all in one.

I was talking to a dear friend of mine, I said lets just to a village, farm and enjoy the greenery, have cows and pets and lead a calm and peaceful life. Alia had the something similar in her little dream. Highway is about this dream, that we have in all of us, to run away from what we have in our lives, make an ideal home in the mountains or on a beach, away from all the baggage and the pain. Alia wishes to escape from the shackles of the richness and as for Randeep, nobody knows.

The Story

It is a very Imtiaz Ali film, not at all a good one. All his characters break moulds they are made in, they are very random in their acts, they do not hesitate (the girls majorly). Same is the case with Highway. Alia embarks on a journey nobody wanted her to ever take, Randeep obstinately moves to go ahead with the kidnapping and ransom thing. Characters do random things, earlier Alia cries when she is kidnapped but suddenly she is all warmed up, she even refuses to reveal herself to the police, a fact even she is not clear about that why she did it. Yes, people are different and their conditioning makes them what they are, but they must fit into the premise of a sensible plot, which Imtiaz could not achieve this time.

Apart from the unconservativeness of the characters, one word that was in my mind till the very end of the movie was 'randomness', there are many more turns in the story which would make absolute no sense. Also, the movie addresses not just travelling, breaking rules or falling in love, but a lot many other things, which leaves viewers to look for a particular direction for the movie to move in. Script is haphazard and there are very few moments that would stay with you after you step out of the hall. Climax, though not surprising, is still not totally believable. There is little humor too, but it is now a part of every movie, here also, it just breaks the monotonous pace of the movie. Towards the end, you just want to get it over with.

On the good side, the movie is a picturesque journey, all the locations are beautifully captured by Anil Mehta, colorful as our country is, so is the movie. The terrain is remarkably used to depict the fullness of the bond in the lead characters, it keeps on getting fuller and brighter. I have traveled a lot on the similar highways, so the recognition took me home. Music and background score is subtle, it is by A.R. Rahman, it has an embracing effect on the plot and does not over spill.

To put an end to this, Highway touches many chords but the music fails to reverberate for long. Highway didn't disappoint me, but it didn't do anything else either. It is a journey in itself, and a journey, how much ever filled with bumps, is never unyielding. Buy the ticket, and tell your story, if you liked it or not.

Stars of the movie - N.A.

Stars to the movie - 2.5

My Happiness Profile

Recently, there has been a happiness overdose everywhere around. One of my dear friends with whom I share my happiness theory (I would do like to share it someday, this post is not just about it) introduced me to #100happydays Concept. You make a note of the 100 happy days in your year, anywhere you want, be it your paper notebook or a diary, or a word document which I use, I do not do the 100 days things, but every other day note; or the much used facebook wall. Off late, seniors in my college are on a #100happydays spree, they will soon leave for their jobs, so they are hell bent on making their last days memorable. They must, I am not complaining, a happy face makes me happy. One of my batch mates regularly does the same, the facebook posts, and I absolutely love them, he is adorable guy and his posts are full of little things which we miss in our daily routine, which he doesn't and he puts it so articulately that you cannot but appreciate him and his spirit. 

Another cannot-be-forgotten enormously happy moment was the screening of Andaz Apna Apna in the campus auditorium. I apologize that all my recent posts have had their own overdose of films, can't help it, it is my work nowadays like I mentioned in the previous post. So there was a very large number of people who came to see the movie. After the interval, I got lost into the movie just like everyone around me, though students were smiling, laughing, screaming, hooting, clapping, jumping in their seats from the very start. Very few movies have that persona and poignancy that binds people together in similar emotions. Andaz Apna Apna was one of them, I was smiling like a lunatic on the stupid jokes and situations and reactions of the characters, the movie had the simplicity and charm that can be explained into the innocence and innocuousness of the characters . When the movie ended, everywhere around, still stood smiling faces.

These moments go into my word document and what follows is the list which routinely gives me a reason to make entries. A few days back, I along with my classmate were talking about what makes us happy and the list was made (no particular order). I do not why and how the conversation started, but it culminated into something very precious to both of us. The contributions also include my friend's another friends'.

• Smell of mud during rains
• Travelling to new places
• A whole day at Crossword Book Store
• Dancing at a party with a friend who matches your lunacy
• Drunk friends declaring their love for you
• Running with a purpose
• Jogging with music in ears
• Swimming 
• Rain bath
• Seeing people actually in love
• An innocent, genuine smile on face other than yours
• A thank you hug
• Scooter ride, music, wind
• Old friends
• Beach
• Losing weight
• Watermelon, Lassi, Icecream, Chaat
• Meeting a person with the same opinion about a song/ movie/ book
• Two people sharing a smile across a distance
• Movie that makes you cry
• Hanging out with your favorite teacher
• Starting the day with a beautiful song and keeping that smile for the entire day
• Taking an unplanned sudden trip/ outing
• Losing track of time in the library

These were by my friend Shikha (Click and read, she writes really well) and her friend - 

• Sipping tea in tiny plastic cups or kullads while watching the sun go down.
• Happiness is meeting new people, travelling to new places and new countries. Happiness is when the travel is sponsored :D 
• Feel of a new dress , especially if its gifted is happiness
• Happiness is a full body spa (Ahaaaaaaaa)
• Happiness is an aimless conversation
• Happiness is when your best friend sends you more I-love-yous than your boyfriend :D
• Double seat cycle ride with Chuddy-buddy is happiness
• Drunk dancing is happiness
• Beach side shack with a nice sleep and the sea breeze singing lullaby is happiness
• Meeting someone new who makes you feel like the connect is ages old is happiness
• Guitar, empty terrace and jamming session is happiness
• Friends , long drives at 3 AM is happiness
• The glint of pride in mummy papa’s eyes is happiness
• Fighting with siblings
• Spending time with your pet dog
• Playing candy crush during lectures
• Cuddling next to your beloved is happiness
• A hot cuppa coffee, a good book inside a warm fur blanket in winter is happiness
• Doodling/ Painting is happiness
• Failing in a subject with the entire class
• Sharing tote-udd-gaye smile with classmates
• Pretty feet with anklets
• I’m -here-for you smile, a thank-u hug and a go-nail-it pat
• My best friend giving “champi” ( head massage) when i have a headache is happiness
• The feeling of true love  or something even remotely close to it
• Staring at the star studded sky from amphi theatre
• Happiness is topping in the course without even opening the book !!
• Happiness is comfort hug from your best friend when you are homesick

The list was long, and even if you skimmed it, I bet you found that many were similar for you and also that you can add to the list.

Read, reflect and write. :) :)

Movies - A Daily Affair

Everybody around has something to escape to, some call it shelter, others passion, a few obsession and many hobby. For me, it is one of my many loves. And nowadays, am bathing in it, it has become my food, not that am skipping meals. I am talking about 'Films'.

The reason being that I have never seen two back to back movies in a cinema hall, and I have already done that twice this month. The results were vary varied. (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty was a waste of time & money and during The Wolf of Wall Street, I was jumping on my seat. Other day, American Hustle made me clap and Miss Lovely left me numb) Also, I had never seen six movies in a month in a theater, but now, been there, done that. Earlier torrents and desktop were my life support.

Adding to that, I was asked to plan an entire event as a class assignment, I did a movie weekend, called Film Frux. I have started writing movie reviews which are published at mixfruitsalad.com. It is heart warming and gratifying. Also, many others are in pipeline. Just now, I read a friends' blog, she also talked about movies. Movies have become, more or less, like water to me; oxygen, well not just now.

And I have an amazing film club in my college. Almost all the movies screened till date, I had not seen them earlier. These are excellent ones, ofcourse, given the club-heads and members who themselves are movie experts - aficionados- connoisseurs, whatever you may call them. You get to hear inside stories, observe stuff in movies you otherwise would miss, you get know to the reason of the unusual.  Glad to be a member. I heard, Ship of Theseus will be screened next. :)

Suketu Mehta, in his book, Maximum City wrote, "Cinema is an outlaw medium, our flashlight in to the darkest part of ourselves". This is one of the best quotes that describes the movie experience. Both darkest and brightest. How many times, you wish to be in the characters' position, play their part, feel their emotions, jump from the tower or just escape, know not where. How many times, you wish you were the one hitting the enemy, breaking the glass, crashing the car or just lying on the grass or driving away into the sunset. Both the sun and the moon. Movies make you laugh, they bring a smile on your face, they wet your eyes.

I, look for movies that make me feel or do any of the above. Those which do, I watch them again. And these are my favorites. Ever since, I am in a never ending pursuit of these. I found one this morning, The Great Debaters, thanks to the professor who mentioned it in class.

Heart felt gratitude to filmmakers, artists, pirates, fellow aficionados. Life itself is a movie, with infinite maneuvers and appearances, with unfulfilled dreams and cherished flashbacks, however, always ending in a score.

Sunday Morning

Sunday is a blessing in disguise. You wake up late, realise the house is empty; the family is off to a spiritual trip, one you didn't like to go out for, the first thing in the morning. You put on music, pick a novel - Maximum City by Suketu Mehta. It is about Bombay, he describes it with such viciousness that one cannot help but falling in love with the city just by reading the book. I remembered that i went to Bombay only a few days back, hot and humid, it was a relief to venture out in the city after a long semester. Marine drive was memorable, calming, to-go-to-again.

Then suddenly you realize you are hungry, i cooked for myself, another pleasure is cooking for oneself, you savor the spices just as you like them to be. To lie down, with music in the background, reading or writing, all these delicacies have another charm on official holidays, not on any other day, no matter how much one love to work.

Sundays are the days to catch up with family, shop and of course just lie down and reflect how the week has fared to you. How yesterday, after a long irritating week, I met another family of mine, ate voraciously and laughed just like myself.

I borrowed the post title from a Maroon 5 song, when the song plays; the smile I get is due to the memory of beginning to love the song. I woke up in my hostel room one Sunday morning and just then my friend played the song. It is exhilarating and fills you with energy; you look forward to a lazy Sunday.

All the memories, thoughts, food, reading, music have an healing effect on a Sunday. Another good part i just realised that it’s only been half a day. Much left to enjoy and savour.

The Lunchbox: A Scrumptious Takeaway

I have seen more than 700 movies, including in languages other than Hindi and English. And i blindly love 35-50 of them. One of them could be added to the list today, The Lunchbox. I say, could be because I add a movie to the list only when I see it at-least twice.

But there is more than one reason I would love to see the movie again. Let's begin. While sitting in the theater, I was only concentrating on the movie, that is unusual as one does not get brilliant pieces of work from Hindi Film Industry that easily. (I want to make it clear that I am no expert on movies, I am a part of the Indian audience who enjoys movies, also I probably haven't seen the majority of good movies, but I can differentiate good from bad).

Ship of Theseus was another one a few weeks back. Unusual plots, brilliant photography, capturing soundtracks and effortless acting engages me. Again, I understand very few elements that go into film making, i am impressed by stories, script and soundtrack, their blend make me love, every part and parcel of the movie.

Okay, so Lunchbox. I was just lost in the movie. I couldn't remember anything else, the thoughts that keep roving in my head, actually the work left. Shots are beautiful, colors are captured beautifully, Bombay is indeed very vibrant. Soundtrack is short and simple. Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur and Nawazuddin Siddiqui do it naturally. The invisible Aunty is a must listen. And the script - the conversations between Aunty & Ila; exchanged letters; simple, honest, persistent Shaikh; the reflections Ila & Fernandez do after reading the letters; the personal space given to all the characters to speak, write, observe what they want to; the amusing conversations between Shaikh & Fernandez keeps one hooked and amused. Unnecessary explanations (character development and decisions taken by the characters) were kept out of the plot which made it crisp and to the point, thus enjoyable and yawn-less. The ending leaves you smiling and I took home what I wanted to.

I would sincerely thank the director and the producers (there are many) for The Lunchbox. The new age directors, as we call them, are producing interesting works. Bless them! How to quench the thirst for more. :)

Let's Not Get Lost....

Over the last few months, lost amid new friends, classes, assignments, dance, and other countless activities and trying to figure out what am doing here at SIMC, i forgot something very important.

In the classroom, it is not unusual that i drift off to sleep or am floating in my own thoughts. A few days back, while floating, a realisation occured, a dream that was almost fulfilled a few months back.

I wanted to get into a institute with community service as the course, but of course couldn't make it. SIMC as the backup plan did work out, and i was & still am very delighted to be here. I believe i have made that quite clear in my previous posts.

While i remembered my inclination, a conversation with a friend about a person engaged in social work and a book i just finished, The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk by Sudha Murty (It describes her experiences while she went around the nation during her work with the Infosys Foundation), all these instances reminded me of my dream and the fact that i must not lose focus.

I wish i can stay the firm I am now and pursue my dream, and not get lost in other pursuits. I wish the same for you, lets not get lost in pursuit of newly found goals. Everyone must have had a dream when we were kids, however small or stupid that might have been. Let's keep the lamp burning while wind intends otherwise. Let's keep dreaming.