Motion Se Emotion

From motion to emotion... the whole lot actually; constipation is not just a condition, it's a motif and a metaphor in the film 'Piku'. And unless one is a constipated person, emotionally, that is, in other words, a completely stuck-up individual, averse to life itself, one cannot but appreciate the film that embodies the journey of life through a layered narrative.
'Piku' is definitely Shoojit Sircar's best film till date.
And the toast of the movie is none other than Deepika Padukone, in the title role. The film belongs to her!
And, if course, a big round of applause for Juhi Chaturvedi, the screenplay-writer. Amitabh Bachchan, Irrfan Khan, Moushumi Chatterjee, Raghubir Yadav, Jisshu Sengupta are also in the cast and each deserve a special mention, as do a few others. 'Piku' is a feat as it is universally relatable and addresses a reality clothed in subtleties, despite the idiosyncrasies typified by the Bongs.

Suchitra Bhattacharya - rest in peace

It is a sad day for Kolkata, for Bengal, and for the world of Bangla literature.
Suchitra Bhattacharya, the renowned Bengali author is no more.
It's interesting to note how a dear friend of mine texted me on learning about Suchitra Bhattacharya's demise: Mitin Maasi aar nei!
It speaks of our fond association with the author just in the capacity of readers, yet sensing a very deep connect with her through the characters she created.
We know, often the critics are dismissive of populist fiction and the popular writers, and hence Suchitra Bhattacharya did not win too many accolades, but her greatest success was in the instant connect that she established with her readers through her sensitive and brilliant portrayals, especially her depiction of middle-class life and its conflicts. Everyday life and everyman/everywoman came alive in the pages of the books she wrote and in the magazines in which her fiction regularly appeared. Films too have borrowed heavily from her, quite naturally.
In recent times, her female sleuth Mitin Maasi had become immensely popular among children and adults alike, which itself is a rare feat.
Her death leaves a void not only in contemporary Bangla literature, but also in our hearts. Ever-smiling and affable she was, but she never hesitated to speak her mind against any kind of ills or injustice in society.
She'd be dearly missed.
May her soul rest in peace.

Darkness descends

When darkness descends,
Let me feel the comfort of your presence;
Let me not recall the nights of dreading the unknown,
Dreading the days that would follow
To engulf me in a greater darkness...
Your limitless - a breeze that wafts in
and makes me feel secure.
Warm, tender, assuring...
Your touch is sensed amidst the stillness of the night,
You call my name -
it has that familiar ring to it;
I know,
you still do.
And oft I choose sleeplessness
Just to reawaken my numb senses,
To make the most of this darkness.