Everyone says, but no one sees

 

Mom says, ‘You have chosen a wrong guy again.

Stop being an emotional fool and end this episode.

‘How, maa?’ I ask without uttering a word –

Love hurts

‘Is it that easy to let our love corrode?’

 

Everyone says, but no one sees…

No one sees the tears that tickle down my cheeks.

Everyone says, but no one sees…

No one sees my moist eyes, full to the brim, as I walk alone in the streets.

 

Dad tries to make me understand, ‘Why make life complicated

When you are not accepted?

Once again, my heart cries out in silence,

‘But dad, it was he who soothed me at a time when I needed.’

 

Everyone says, but no one sees…

No one sees the pillow that gets wet each night.

Everyone says, but no one sees…

No one sees my inner fight.

 

Friends warn, ‘Think well. It’s a matter of your life! –

Know where you are headed, girl.’

‘Guys,’ I wish I could tell them, ‘without him my life

Would be a harder strife!’

 

Everyone says, but no one sees…

No one sees my lowered eyelids.

Everyone says, but no one sees…

No one sees the reason behind my deeds.

 

He complains, ‘You never stood by me.

You never had love for me. Fine, you can quit!’

I wish I could tell him, ‘Baby, I did.

All that I could, I honestly did.’

 

Even you say, but you do not one see…

You do not see how I spend each day…

Even you say, but you do not one see…

You do not see how I spend each day without you, baby.

 

Review of Kahaani: ‘Kahaani’ means ‘story’, and the film is based on ‘stories’.

Released on: 9^th March, 2012

Cast: Vidya Balan, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Kharaj Mukherjee

Director: Sujoy Ghosh

Bonus: ‘Ekla cholo re’ by Amitabh Bachchan

My Rating: 4.5 stars of 5

 

Kahaani promotions

Promotions: There were posters in different cities that bore a sketch of a missing person. I came across such a poster near Jadavpur Police Station, at a time when I had not even heard the name of ‘Kahaani’. Later, Vidya Balan also went out in the streets, railways stations and other places in the city with a sketch of her missing husband and asking people about his whereabouts!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kahaani Poster

Kahaani poster: A pregnant Vidya Balan is portrayed as Goddess Durga in the poster of Kahaani, with Howrah Bridge as the backdrop.  The red colour of Vidya’s dress signifies  – power, strength, and anger. While the dash of green symbolizes renewal of Vidya in a new form. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ami shotti bolchi, Kahaani is an awesome movie! Kahaani has a marvelous ‘kahaani’ that keeps the audience glued to the seats till the end!

Kahaani was a much awaited movie for me. First, because the plot is based in Calcutta (Kolkata); second, for Vidya Balan. Apart from a few disastrous flicks like Kismat Konnection, Vidya Balan has always offered the audience something different; something unique. From Lalita in Parineeta to Silk in Dirty Picture, she went on surprising the audience with her versatile polished acting skills. I said a bit too much about Vidya Balan for I am a fan of hers, but then again, Kahaani is all about her!

Sujoy Ghosh, is definitely to be credited for the fresh storyline. Direction by Sujoy Ghosh himself was good, but cinematography was not up to the mark. There have been scenes where one could find spectators standing for no reason. Moreover, in a city like Calcutta there were myriads of things to portray what the city is like, yet visuals chosen to depict the city do not satiate the audience, especially from the City of Joy!

The story begins with a poisonous gas tragedy in a Metro train, near Kalighat. After a fade out, a pregnant Vidya Bagchi (Vidya Balan) is seen coming out of the Netaji Subhash International Airport. As the trailers of the film revealed, Vidya Bagchi has come down all the way from London to Kolkata in search of her missing husband – Arnab Bagchi.

Things turn fishy as Vidya finds out that the guest house Monalisa in Sarat Bose Road, where Arnab said he was putting up, had no records of anyone of that name. Neither did any uncle of Arnab Bagchi exist, as he said, lived in Thakurpukur. The authority of the school where Arnab studied and had shared a number of anecdotes with his wife, affirmed that there was no Arnab Bagchi in a particular batch.

At this point like Inspector Chatterjee (Kharaj Mukherjee) a huge chunk of the audience assumed it is a case of a man who made Vidya pregnant and then fled. This is exactly where all the twists in the story start. Kahaani is a story with twists throughout, that keep you sit on the edge of the seat. Vidya soon learns that a terrorist – Milan Damji, who was responsible for the Metro gas tragedy is a look-alike of Arnab Bagchi. Tensed, Vidya suspects that Arnab might be caught up in something that might be related with Milan Damji, and swears to find out the truth. She believes, finding Milan Damji will also be the end of search for Arnab Bagchi.

Thus, with the help of Rana (Parambrata Chatterjee) – the good cop, instead of Arnab Bagchi, Vidya starts her quest to find out Milan Damji, and only stops when she does so! Revealing more than this could be spoilers, so I would stop right here. Just would like to add that the end has the most striking twist.

The movie has a number of twists and turns to offer the audience. However, when Vidya Bagchi was shown coming down to Kolkata from London by flight, the first thing that struck my mind was – how was she allowed to travel by flight with a protruding belly like that! Towards the end of the film, even that question was wiped off my mind! Kahaani is a story of woman power, which is why Calcutta is apt city chosen for the plot; a city that worships ‘Maa Durga’ – the Goddess of woman prowess. Vidya balan can give a tough competition to all the heroes out there in the Hindi film industry (Bollywood) now!

An excellent story that has been shot in the nooks and corners of Calcutta, will give a wonderful idea to people who have not been to the city. From Kalighat Metro station to Tollygunge Metro station, from Sarat Bose Road to Thakurpukur, from Triangular Park to the narrow lanes of the North, including the potters’ quarter – Kumortuli, Vidya Bagchi has not left any place untrodden! And the song rightly says: Kalkatta dekho to baki duniya bekaar hai!

 

Difference between Islam and Muslim

According to the CIA World Factbook about 21.01% of the world’s total population are Muslims. Islam is one of the major religions of the world, yet, many people do not know the difference between Islam and Muslim. Here is a simple effort to try to make the difference clear to the readers.

The relation between Islam and Muslim is pretty similar to the relation between books and readers. Islam is a religion that was first exposed to Prophet Mohammad, who later preached the principles to his disciples. The teachings of Islam had later been transcribed in Quran – the holy book of the Muslims.

Islam is thus, a faith or a religion. Muslims are those who are the followers of the faith – Islam. To put in a simpler way – Muslims are the followers of Islam. So, Islam is an abstract, while Muslims are concrete subjects.

Islam is a religion which teaches its followers to surrender to Allah, while Muslims are the people who surrender to Allah. Islam is to Muslims as Christianity is to Christians or what Buddhism is to Buddhists.

Usages in sentences:

Islam: Islam is a religion that considers consumption of alcohol as a sin.

Muslim: A Muslim prays to Allah five times a day.

Incorrect usages:

Islam: Islam mainly refers to the religion and things and acts relating to that religion but never the persons who follow that religion. It is okay to say ‘Islamic culture’, but it is wrong to say ‘Islamic man’.

Muslim: On the contrary Muslims should only be used to refer to people who follow the religion of Islam, and not the religion itself. So, it is correct to say ‘I am reading about the religion of the Muslims’ but it is incorrect to say ‘I am reading about the Muslim religion’.

Difference between Emo and Punk

‘Punk’ and ‘Punk Rock’ is a bit older forms of music which originated in 70’s. Punk Rock was most common in USA, UK and Australia. The generation of Punk was short-lived. It died out in the late 70’s. ‘Emo’ is a new form of music which originated in 80’s. Apparently ‘Emo’ is in actuality a sub genre of ‘Punk’.

While ‘Punk’ was based on fast and hard-edged music with low instrumentalism and anti-political or conventional views of the society; ‘Emo’ normally concentrated on the individual’s emotion, depression and romantic glitches; it focused on an individual rather than the society.

Emo music is much more emotional, melodic and expressive than the fast nature of Punk rhythm.

Music type and popular bands

Punk; as described earlier talks about opposition to conventional social views and beliefs. Some popular musical bands promoting punk rock are Sex Pistols, The Ramones, and The Offspring etc.

Emo is the new trend and speaks about the ‘emotional self’. Most Emo bands rely on romantic depressions and emotional distress for their music. Popular music bands are Fall Out Boy, From Autumn to Ashes, A Static Lullaby etc.

Fan Beliefs and Fashion statements

As for the fans, Emo fans and Punk fans by their appearance and fashion statements provide a belief and faith to the Emo or Punk culture. Emo followers are often sensitive, shy, introvert and quiet. ‘Emo’ is a actually a short form of ‘emotional’. Emo fans normally sport colored hair and remain calm, timid and shy. The Punk fans stylize themselves with aggressive looks like tattoos, piercings and back-combed hair and Mohawks.

Society and Views

A lot of people recon that Emo and Punk is almost similar, whereas some believe there are basic differences. Fashion and style elements differ according to the music tastes and belief of the cultures, so there are some difference between an Emo and a Punk. Society believes a Punk is trendy, outrageous and bold in fashion statement, while, open Emo displays (symbolizing over-emotional) might be vulnerable and harmful for the person.

Benefits of Surya Namaskar

Although originated in India, yoga and pranayam have gained immense popularity across the globe. Yoga and pranayam have now become a part of daily routine in a number of people’s life. Among the diverse yoga postures an important one is – Surya Namaskar. An exercise which helps you have healthy body and healthy mind, simultaneously, Surya Namaskar is actually a set of different movements. While a number of people practice Surya Namaskar, they themselves may not be aware of all the benefits of Surya Namaskar. Here is an endeavour of throwing some light on the benefits of Surya Namaskar:

• Surya Namaskar helps in stretching the abdominal muscles, improving ones digestive system.
• Most people, who suffer from insomnia, benefit in having a sound sleep practicing Surya Namaskar.
• Surya Namaskar is a great way to increase the metabolic rate of the body, and thus helps out in reducing fat and keeps the body in proper shape. The increased metabolic rate also aids in getting rid of toxic substance, and enrich the blood with oxygen.
• One who practices Surya Namaskar, can easily enhance their body flexibility, increasing the physical fitness of the body. It also relaxes the muscles of your neck and relieves the bidy of fatigue.
• Surya Namaskar gives the body strong muscles, hand and wrists, back muscles.The body also gets stronger joints and ligaments.
• A lot of women practice Surya Namaskar to have a regular menstrual cycle. It also help them get rid of the fear of pregnancy and ensures an easy childbirth.
• The daily stress, depression and the amount of anxiety that a person brings home, can easily be soothed by practising this form of yoga. Thus, Surya Namaskar not only helps to maintain a healthy body, but also a healthy mind.
• A regular practice of Surya Namaskar boosts the concentration power of an individual. Students can benefit in developing their concentration and focus on their studies. Of course, people who have completed their studies can also practice Surya Namaskar to get benefitted.

Benefits of Ghee

Ghee is a type of ayurvedic edible oil, which is mainly used in frying, sauté, or baking. The aromatic butter oil is also a popular spread on a number of dishes. Ghee has a wonderful flavor and aroma that increases the taste of any dish.

Ghee is obtained from further heating the butter to get the pure butter oil, without the lactose and other milk solids. The gentle heating also leaves the ghee as a clear golden liquid, exclusive of the water content. The pure ghee thus obtained becomes more resistant to spoilage. Ghee is a medium of cooking, which not only tastes great with its rich taste and aroma, but also has a lot of health benefit.

Absorption: Ghee is a form of butter oil, which is why it can easily bond with lipid-soluble nutrients. This newly formed solution can then easily penetrate through the lipid-based cell walls of the body. This way the essential herbs are transported to the parts of body where they are most beneficial.

Digestion: Ghee strikes a balance with the excess stomach acids. It also helps in maintaining or repairing the mucous lining of the stomach.

Mind: Ghee is an excellent memory booster and helps in promoting mental functions like – learning and recalling.

Mild burns: If applied quickly to the affected skin of mild burns, ghee soothes the burning sensation, and can also prevent blisters and scarring.

Balance: Ghee maintains a balance in both ‘Vata’ and ‘Pitta’. ‘Vata’ is the mind and body operator, while ‘Pitta’ is the controller of heat and metabolic rate. The correct balance between the two helps in the proper functioning of the body.

Ghee as a preservative: Ghee being so pure does not get spoiled easily. The natural freshness of butter oil makes it resistant to spoilage and thus ghee can be stored for a long time.

There are many benefits of ghee. Other than health benefits, ghee is used widely in Indian cuisine for it’s cooking and edible benefits as well.

Benefits of Brewer’s yeast

Loaded with vitamins, proteins, minerals, amino acids Brewer’s yeast has been a nutritional supplement since ages. Brewer’s yeast is scientifically known as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. They fall in the category of live microbial supplements. Brewer’s yeast is nothing but a by-product which is obtained while brewing beer, from the extracts of hops, malt and grains. Intake of this yeast is beneficial for the body in many ways. There are other benefits of brewer’s yeast as well, some are listed below:

Nutrients: As it is obtained as a by-product of beer, it absorbs all the essentials proteins, nutrients and chemicals. Brewer’s yeast is rich in vitamin B-complex, which helps in the general metabolic rate of the body.

Cell development: Brewer’s yeast contains high concentration of nucleic acid which helps out in the process of cell renewal and regeneration.

Beneficial to diabetics: The low content of sodium, carbohydrate, fats and calorie makes it a wonderful supplement for diabetic patients. On the other hand the high amount of folic acid, potassium, chromium, thiamine and niacin also promotes insulin production of the body.

Increases immunity: Consumption of Brewer’s yeast helps in an increased immunity in the human body. The body gets better equipped to combat any diseases.

Beneficial for pregnant women: The high amount of folic acid in Brewer’s yeast helps nourishing the foetus and developing the nervous system in it.

Fights hair loss: Hair fall leads to baldness in most men and women due to lack of biotin. Brewer’s yeast is rich in this vitamin and thus helps in preventing hair loss. Biotin helps in circulation of blood in the scalp thus helps in growth of new hair, besides retaining the old ones.

Proper digestive system: Brewer’s yeast reduces digestive disorders and treats problems of constipation. A healthy digestive system is always the key to a healthy body.

Fertility in men: Consumption of Brewer’s yeast increases fertility in men.

May I have a cup of ‘love’, please?

Years back, I thought I would love,

More than anyone would ever have;

Believed, that I would be loved back,

You did, sweetheart – but why did I feel a lack?

 

With pillows wet and bed-sheet crinkled

That I fell in love, at times I lament!

Maybe I don’t have it in me –

The passion to love; the craze to heal;

 

All I can is – retire in to shell,

I am used to residing in hell.

Moments of delight and hours of tears,

Love isn’t as sugary as it appears.

 

A kiss on forehead or a hand around –

Should have made it perfectly sound.

To be in love was all we dreamt,

Tell me, does it no more tempt?

 

Why do you shout? Why do you scold?

Is it because our love has turned old?

In spite of all, I would try –

With the hope that you would not let me pass by!

 

Dhobi Ghat (Mumbai Diaries)

Dhobi Ghat (Mumbai Diaries): Yet another movie that portrays human emotions in a delicate way. Directed by Kiran Rao, the movie does stand out from the senseless masala movies of its contemporary times. With Aamir Khan being one of the four main characters in the movie, need I much say about the acting? He played ‘Arun’ who was a painter – divorced and lonely. In fact, Pratiek Babbar who was cast as ‘Munna’ had done quite a good job and seemed to be a promising actor. In spite of the casting being done by Kiran Rao, I dare to go into the details of how the other two leads of the film are. Monica Dogra played ‘Shai’ and Kriti Malhotra played ‘Yasmin’.

'Dhobi Ghat' is indisputably a huge success for Rao as a debutant.

The central characters in the movie are from the different strata of the society and are all like chalk and cheese when compared to each other. Intelligently spun, the charisma of the plot of the story is carefully embedded in how, despite this, are the lives of these four people entwined with one another.

Arun was a modern art painter. He was divorced two years back and has not seen his wife or son since then. He does miss his son, but being introvert as a person he kept it to himself. Life is not that easy for him to stay alone in rented house and keep shifting to a new one after the lease was over.

Shai was an employee in a bank, back in the States and an amateur photographer. She visits India to shoot a few stills for a project of her dad. Back home her mom took a keen interest in painting and so she also develops a love for them. While on her visit to Mumbai, she happens to go to see an exhibition of Arun’s work. She encounters Arun there. Eventually, she gets intimate with him on that night. She starts loving him, although she knows that Arun would not commit to her.

Munna is a dhobi (washerman), who earns his bread working in Mumbai, miles away from his home in a village in Bihar. Co-incidentally, he is appointed by both Arun and Shai to get their clothes washed. While Arun remains unaware of this fact, Shai discovers this one day. As Shai is on her project she got friendly with Munna, who took her to different places like dhobi ghat, to shoot. In the course of this Munna who was unaccustomed to such charming company of a modern girl, falls in love with her.

Arun, who had changed his house again after that night of his encounter with Shai, finds some belongings that belonged to the people who used to stay there before him. Along with a chain and a silver ring he also finds a video-camera and a few cassettes. Out of curiosity he plays the cassettes and sits down to watch it.

In the video appears the fourth character – Yasmin. She comes from a village of Uttar Pradesh. She is married to a man who had another woman in his life and thus cared very little for and about Yasmin. Yasmin used to shoot herself – saying something, the city of Mumbai, the roads, the people, and even her maids, to send it back to her home, to his beloved brother, Imran. Watching such a free-spirited girl, who was the victim of gloomy circumstances, yet was resilient to remain happy in life, Arun could not help but fell for her. He used to watch her videos and tried to recreate her jocundity and vivacity with his bold brush strokes. Both the brush and the painter were immersed in the colours of Yasmin. While he was painting one day with one of Yasmin’s cassettes on, he came to know that Yasmin resolved to commit suicide.

Rao has not forced her ideas as conclusion, but ends it in an implicit and subtle way and leaves it to the audience to interpret in their own way. If you are intelligent enough, Dhobi Ghat will make you think even after you are half-way through in your car and waiting for the signal to turn green. It is indisputably a huge success for Rao as a debutant.

Cinematography was quite good, by cinematographer – Tushar Kanti Ray, with some wonderful shots of the Mumbai city, but could have been better yet! But then some places, for instance, when the cat walks down the sink, in the new place that Munna shifts too, was awesome! Direction was near perfect, and no I am not saying this because the director was Kiran Rao! But the lady sure knows how to get the best out of an actor.

Chronology of love

* Warning: Not for teenagers who have their rose tinted glares still on…

Phase 1: “I love you. You love me.” phase.

Chocolaty talks                                                                                                                                                                                                     Frequent calls                                                                                                                                                                                                               “Miss you.” [a constant reminder of YOU being missed]                                                                                                                            ”Love you.” [at regular intervals – a constant reminder of YOU being loved]                                                                              Fights resolved in half a day

Tell them ‘I love you’ – they need to hear it sometimes!

Phase 2: “Don’t I love you? Don’t I keep you happy?” phase [in harsh words - Taken for granted phase].

If you call you might get to listen: “I’m busy, baby. Could I call you after an hour?”                                                                  They do call back after an hour or a little before that and the first thing you get to hear is: “I’m sorry, baby… I was busy.’

Now things have reversed. You may need to ask whether you are still loved (or when you want to listen to the three magical words).

You start sleeping over your fights.

Phase 3: And (don’t?) they live happily ever after phase.

Marginal demand has been met with. They do not need to listen “I love you’… Of course they do not have to tell you too… I mean, haven’t they already said it so many times before?

Come on… don’t call now! They are busy… Try to be ‘understanding’! Still if  you do you may get to hear: I’m busy. Could I call you after an hour?”

They do call… after more than an hour or a couple of hours have elapsed… and you might have sent a message.

Text messages shrink from 160 characters to 16 characters!

Example: I am in meeting. (16 characters)

(I am sure you do not need an example of 160 characters.)

Fights can continue for uncertain period of time.

However, dear friends, it is my earnest request that do not blame your significant others for this, for they are not the ones who are responsible for this. It is simply the ‘depreciation of love’ over the period of time.

Always remember, “when a guy/gal sweeps you off your feet, he’s in the perfect position to drop you on your arse!” (This quote has been taken from the internet.)

Moral: 1.  Love is like a chewing gum which gradually loses its sweetness.                                                                                             2. Yet we cannot help falling in love.