सुनहरी किर्न.. (Sunahri Kirne..)
It was a lovely time of the year, and Scotland was blooming with white. Our previous encounter with snowing was in Peterborough, and it was my little one’s 5th birthday. We have fond memories of that day in particular, felt like blessings pouring straight from the heavens.
Reliving those moments comes with a sense of immense gratitude and hope for the future.
11 months of drama, sporting excellence and exploits, unblemished victories, surprise defeats and an eventual Champion. English Premier League concludes with Arsenal taking the crown of champions after 22 years – quite surprising though considering they have been a indomitable force with so much consistency all these years but for reasons, the champions tag eluded them for years. This could be Arsenal’s invincible year if they go on to win the Champions League on Saturday.
I have admired Manchester City throughout this season, thanks to their overall dominance in most of the games and the sheer brilliance of Erling Haaland. He was prolific, attacking and every time his set his foot on ball, he securely looked like the man to score a goal. That’s a unique attribute to have and certainly would have like City to claim the glory. But it was not to me. City fumbled a bit in the last few games, which cost them since they were inching closer to Arsenal. Next time, then.
My personal favourite is Liverpool. Ever since we were neighbours way back in 2014, I have come to realise an attachment that co-exists with Anfield and their performances. A bit disappointed especially since they came in to this season as defending champions but were a touch inconsistent in crucial games. I was almost certain that they would end up in the top 4 but the last few games didn’t go as planned, which saw them crashing to fifth position. I understand a lot happened for Liverpool this year – Diogo Jota’s untimely death was a shocker, severely under performed in crucial games and poor defence (conceded too many goals this season). We also saw Mohammad Salah moving out, an absolute legend for Liverpool, who has scored heavily for the Reds in the last 5-6 years. It will be interesting to see how they are poised for the next season but I am looking forward to their performances.
As another gripping season comes to an end, I am already looking forward to the next one. Ready to kick off for yet another season of mind boggling, madness personified football ⚽️.
Ah! The smile of my life. He obviously had no idea about those heavy duty words drafted on the plaque above. And that is definitely not the highlight of this photograph. He stood, and it came out so naturally that it has been since, become the epitome of innocence and cuteness.
Love, and more ❤️.
I recall those days with utmost joy and a sense of fulfilment as it seemed more like some kind of a redeemable transition after you are blown away by a storm that totally, completely displaces you.
Well, it is never smooth sailing but for those beautiful days to come back, I am happy to do anything that could reclaim that elusive peace.
Kotagiri is sandwiched between Ooty and Coonoor, yet stands out for it unblemished beauty and retains the flavour of a quintessential hill station.
It was a short stay, wanted to escape from the daily routine of stress, monotony, imposed disinterest and perennial concern in the sequence of events. Nevertheless, it was a contented stay – immersed in nature, forest, mountains, monkeys, bison and waterfalls. Sounds and feels heavenly, isn’t it? It sure did.
Some places look ordinary, but could lead to a fascinating experience. This visit unfolded in to one of those days. Just pure, lush green landscapes, flowers blooming out and simmering through those wet leaves, rain that serves as a soothing medicine in sweltering heat. And, unexpectedly, we had some wonderful people for company as toppings. What else can you really ask for? That’s a picture perfect definition of a weekend getaway!
We visited the nearby waterfalls which was nothing short of an adventure in itself. Lurking behind our beautiful cottage amidst the towering hills and the sprawling forest area, lies this divine package of uninhibited, overflowing sound of energy in the form of pure, fresh, natural water. And for all of us, it was a magical experience. It was also a very private place, away from the usual tourist destinations that makes it commercial and crowded. All of us got wet, soaked in happiness and drenched in happiness.
The 10 hour drive was a breeze and it’s always an uppish feeling to get through the ghat roads in style.
Thank you, for the moments and great people who came along and left an indelible impression in our lives.
His first, and will remain a special outing for both us. Lots of FOOD, Potrait shots, the greens of Chepauk, enchanting smiles and a CSK win!
Cheers to many more ❤️😍🥰👍🙂
I must admit, it was one hell of a state assembly elections in two of the most politically charged and animated landscapes in India’s political history. And the outcome has been nothing short of a revelation.
Let’s start with Tamil Nadu. Dominated by the Dravidian parties for almost 6 decades, I did not expect this coming. Yes, going by the grapevine, I was expecting TVK to grab a few substantial seats and sit comfortably in the opposition, chewing much more than they would expect. But TVK surpassed all my expectations. Competing against a powerhouse like DMK and Stalin is no mean feat, and toppling them in such style is something that only happens in movies. I have only heard about the aura of MGR or the magic of NTR, never expected such a fairy tale to unfold in our times. Though I have no idea about the arsenal Vijay/TVK (apologies, he is now the honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu) possess nor am I aware about his abilities as a political leader, but nevertheless, this is a story that needs to be told. Obviously the bigger question is – do Vijay and TVK have it in them to fight lineage, powerful political vendettas and swirling controversies to hold the fort – is a matter to debate and talk for the next 5 years (if he is around for 5 years, that is). But for now, we are basking in TVK and Vijay’s glory, and I don’t mind celebrating such an ominous victory at all.
Now, West Bengal. My hometown. What can I say? A political potboiler for decades since Jyoti Basu took his acclaimed position in Writer’s Building as the Chief Minister of Bengal. Rest, as they infamously say, was pure, brutal, unflinching, disastrous history in the making. For me, and let me reiterate that I am not against communism, the Left under Jyoti Basu’s leadership, completely destroyed Calcutta. From being India’s numero uno city in terms of literature, industries, talent marketplace and a hub of job opportunities in the 40s and 50s, the fortunes of Calcutta came dwindling down in the aftermath of communist ideologies and utter lack of vision, the very attribute that Calcutta stood for in that era. Almost 4 decades of CPI(M) rule took away everything Calcutta had, and in the name of progress, there was none. Then in 2011, came TMC and our beloved Didi. She vowed to change the landscape in Calcutta, tall claims were made in the name of leadership and redemption. 2026 happened – and here we are. BJP makes a grand entry in to Bengal, and Didi has been overthrown. Thanks to her political infidelity and assuming invincibility (Saradha Scam, RG Kar incident are fine examples), she remained oblivious of the fact that she was slowly fading away in to obscurity. I think this is what happened – Bengal don’t love BJP, but they definitely don’t love Didi anymore. In fact, people have started despising her, which clearly indicates that the bridges of hope, goodwill and expectations are now burnt and dusted. But will BJP’s resurgence in Bengal help to redeem its lost glory? I don’t know, but certainly would hope for a slice of the pie falling on its lap, which might do Calcutta and Bengal a world of good.
For now, let’s see if the leadership in both these states shines or whines. But as we speak, celebrations galore and for the right reasons.
Storytelling at it’s mercurial best, ‘The Secret Agent’ is an ode to the kind of cinema that disrupts, enthrals and keeps you engaged in a series of events that sets the tone for difficult and riveting characters that go through pain, transformation and fight against a corrupt system that overhauls human principles and compassion.
The scenes beautifully oscillates between the principal characters and adjacent antagonists who leave no stone unturned to accomplish their act of vengeance and envy while depicting the powerful political landscape in those times.
Though the one leg syndrome was a bit chaotic and lets you believe for few moments if this film is transcending in to a different genre. Otherwise, for most parts, it sticks to the plot and the troubled characters.
Wagner Moura delivers a restrained, understated performance as the protagonist on the run, trying to defend his family and honour while painfully seeping through the powerful, diabolical system and its people.
This kind of cinema is not for everyone, so admiring this genre in a such an elusive, de-glamourised version might be a hard pill to swallow for most of them. But for me, it symbolises the very essence of cinema – perilously vulnerable and dramatic.
https://mubi.com/films/the-secret-agent-2025/share?utm_source=app_share&utm_medium=ios_app
I did not watch Kohrra immediately when it was available on Netflix. I had my reservations, Indian web series on Netflix have mostly been disappointing, not living up to the hype despite promising premise and stellar casting. Among many, only a handful stood out for substance and quality of production.
So, it took a while. And I am glad I took my time to take the plunge. Inarguably, one of the most riveting drama I have watched in the recent times, and most definitely, one of the finest Indian web series on OTT today. The darkness, the pulsating negative energy that glows in a tense and breathing Punjab landscape, Kohraa exudes finesse and raw emotions in a nerve wrecking drama that culminates murder, cultural boundaries and personal mayhem in a stitched manner.
I think Mona Singh is brilliant in her complex, tailored role that exudes pain, duty bound and ability to overcome personal loss to uncover the deaths under mysterious circumstances. This will most certainly go down as one of the most underrated performances in the OTT platform. The casting in general is quite apt, with actors who have the flair to deliver in such a tense and gritty drama.
‘Kohrra’ is a must watch, if you prefer serious, raw energy to get you hooked for meaningful number of hours.
That look was quite a revelation. He wasn’t the one who was oblivious of each other’s presence, but looked at him with a sense of ease and admiration, perhaps thinking – he can sit on those single rails and fly around but I can’t. I will ask him what was running on his mind then 🙂 (this was shot in Edinburgh, Scotland 4 years ago).
The coveted trophy comes home, again!
India rounded off a fabulous tournament to bring the most ambitious and the revered trophy in T20 World Cricket. winning the World Cup is always special, but winning back to back, especially in your own backyard is most definitely a wonderful feeling. The fact that no team has ever achieved this feat, makes it all the more spectacular and surreal.
India dominated the tournament except on 2 occasions – the defeat in the hands of a formidable Proteas was a wake up call that we cannot take things for granted. And for around 30 minutes when Jacob Bethell went berserk in pursuit of taking England to the final, there were sure shot butterflies in the stomach. Otherwise, it was a quite a performance – consistent, clinical and looked like a champion side throughout. All the key players chipped in and contributed, Sanju Samson rose to the occasion when it mattered and stole the show, and Bumrah was being Bumrah. Absolutely brilliant!
The biggest win of all, though was this – the ever charming smile on my son’s face when we lifted the trophy was an icing on the cake.
Thank you, Indian Cricket Team!
In barren lands, this one was meant for sore eyes. Beautifully poised, oblivious of the fact that he is being observed through my lenses (at least that’s the way I saw it), he remained undeterred for me to get in to a most suitable position. The sky above provided the most perfect blanket to lend class to the overall posture.
Clearly, one of my favourites.
@Lifeoholic