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.

Smiley morning

Good morning...
morning messages are great mood uplifters for me, and there's nothing like a morning smiley that boosts our morale, so here's a treat for my readers, virtual... but you may try it out for real, for all your loved ones (strictly for the egg-lovers though).

Margarita with a Straw

Margarita with a Straw is not just a film, it's an experience..... an humbling experience.

Aamir -- Happy Birthday!

He is one of his kind.
He is a class apart.
he does not hesitate to speak his mind.
He walks the least trodden path.
He dares to listen to his heart... and his heart alone, when in doubt.
He is extraordinarily interesting as a person.....
though he can be simultaneously in conflict and at peace.
My his charisma continue.... may we stay enamored with him forever.
After all, he has shown the way, has been a guide, to many of us.
He is Aamir Khan.
And, mind you, the words above aren't mine alone.....
I collated the thoughts and expressions of so many of my dear ones.
We all are Aamir-lovers! Absolutely. Unabashedly.
Here's sending loads of love and good wishes on his birthday.
Quoting one of his greatest fans: May this be the dawn of a new beginning for Aamir.

Holi Sweetness

Gorging on Holi sweets.... the gujiyas, which are special north-Indian delicacies and which I haven't had the privilege of having earlier.

Bombay Velvet

It is one film that has been in the news for all kinds of reasons, right from the word go. The concept itself is one that makes us sit up and take note. The 'period' film, based in Bombay (that's how the city was known to the world in the Sixties, not as Mumbai), where a boxer and a jazz singer face the bitter truth that the city can hardly offer them love or hope - that they've been desperately seeking - hasn't been easy to make. From the casting, to the execution, the post-production and now the much-delayed release, a whole gamut of hassles have had to be fought. But Anurag Kashyap is someone who isn't expected to give up on his dreams.
Now, that the teaser poster is out, our appetite is whetted all the more. Here's wishing the team of 'Bombay Velvet' ( the cast includes Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Karan Johar, Raveena Tandon and Kay Kay Menon) the very best.

Pamper me

I wish to be pampered like someone's darling cat, someone who is spoilt with all the attention and care. Silly me!

Top Ten Films 2014

Best films seen by me this year (be it on the big screen or on home video/telly) are:
1. Boyhood (2014)
2. Ankhon Dekhi (2014)
3. Blue Jasmine (2013)
4. Miss Lovely (2012)
5. The Mudge Boy (2002)
6. Gravity (2013)
7. Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
8. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
9. Finding Fanny (2014)
10. The Man in the Moon (1991)

Of Guys and Dolls

When I was growing up, if anyone dared to suggest that guys too love to play with dolls, he or she would have been spewed venom upon, or worse.... well, that still holds in the society I hail from.
Guys playing with dolls? No, no, no.... it is a big 'no' for goodness' sake!
But action figures.... well, they're fine of course. At least that's the evolved perception right now.
Reading comics from an early age, and being in close touch with the world scenario, although from a distance, I had known all along that guys of all ages can known to be passionate about action figures. The fact remains that still in some cultures it's very much a closet phenomenon.
Times are hopefully changing, mindsets are known to change slowly but gradually.
Even we Indians are wholeheartedly embracing the culture of men (adults of either gender actually) being charged up about collecting superhero action figures thanks to a chocolate major and its unique advertising campaign.
The manliness of the so called pin-ups is also not expected to be doubted by the impressionable majority when these models or actors are shown posing with their favorite action figures. I like it.

Best mini-series watched this year

The best television mini-series watched this year is undoubtedly 'A Young Doctor's Notebook'. It stars Daniel Radcliffe and Jon Hamm, playing the different versions of the same character, the lead protagonist.

RinaDi Once More

Watching Aparna Sen (RinaDi to all who love her, adore her) on the big screen once again is what made 'Chotushkone' (Death... Fair and Square) so special to me. And as an ardent admirer, having observed her from close quarters almost all my life, I can't resist from sharing these stills from the movie... as words can't express the medley of feelings, some if which reside in the realm of inarticulate wonderment.

Khoobsurat: Pretty sweet

'Khoobsurat', the 2014 film is a delight. Yes, it is what's often called a chick-flick... yes, it's too much of a candy floss concoction without the characters or the situations making much sense... and, no, the reference to the Rekha starrer of the same name from the Eighties was not at all necessary. But, for the entire family that's on the lookout for a clean, hilarious romance at the nearest multiplex, this film is just the recommended fare.

Hail Freedom!

Freedom can be suppressed by the forces that be for a short while only, the rebellion of the oppressed, of those who have been gagged, is certain. The voice of sanity, the voice of reason, shall be heard once more, resounding far and wide, and it shall make all the difference. A change for the better will be an outcome for sure. So, all hail freedom, break free of the shackles, the fetters are going to give away in no time.

Finding Fanny

Watched 'Finding Fanny'... one of this year's best!
However, recommended only for those who felt Homi Adajania had defected to cocktailish Bollywood for good (even after having had a superlative directorial debut).
This one's exquisite brandy, make no mistake.

Asha-ji.... happy birthday!

Asha Bhosle.... the name spells music for me, she enchants me with her mesmerizing voice, her magically melodious numbers....
Here's wishing her a very happy birthday.

Lessons learnt

Learning lessons, I mean life's lessons and not the school lessons that we learn by rote, is actually fun and not boring when the lessons are packaged beautifully and are delivered to us in an endearing manner by our favorite films. Especially, the animation films from Pixar - which have been not only entertaining us but also making us learn and accept and welcome things for positivity and harmony, over the years. Here's taking a look, and taking a nod as well, this post is courtesy a mail sent to me by a friend as he found it in a compilation on the Net.

AK in and as PK

Never has a film's teaser and the subsequent trailer captured our imagination as much as Rajkumar Hirani's 'P.K.'. There have been all kinds of speculations prior to the release of the first trailer, and quite naturally, as the makers had their film's content strictly under wraps.
All we got to know was this: "A stranger in the city asks questions no one has asked before. Known only by his initials, P.K.'s innocent questions and childlike curiosity will take him on a journey of love, laughter and letting-go."
That's P.K.... in a nutshell.... and here is A.K. in and as 'P.K.' (or should I say 'pk'?)
How much the audience would accept him, only time will tell.

Hercules

For the first time, an upcoming Bangla film has the same title as a latest Hollywood film & the posters are splashed alongside at 'plexes!
'Hercules'