Gotcha!
The Color Wheel
‘Relationships’ are emphatically ‘curiosity personified’. No wonder, after ages and centuries, the human clan is so obsessively clinging on to the mysteries of relationship blues. Yet, we don’t have answers but we have lots of questions.
Our relationships rely on the dynamics of each individual. There is no absolute mantra for successful relationships, but certain core values do place an emphasis on the development of a healthy relationship. Trust, obviously is the most important one. If I have to open up to an individual, then it is paramount to know if the other person deserves my openness. And, this process is mutual. I have observed that independently built individuals with a mind of their own will have a better relationship story, one who doesn’t get manipulated by intervention and is bold enough to make tough decisions in life. Yes, the struggles of the particular individual will be equally monumental but the results will be resolute and dependable.
If you are fragile, your relationships will also be equally fragile. You can’t expect a strong bond with an individual who is struggling to fight for self. Ego plays a crucial role in framing our relationships. A human being without ego is like an egg without the yolk, but the balance is very subtle and defining. And with our insecurities, ego is a faulty catalyst. When we fall for it, the consequences are usually terrible and disdainful.
Relationships also suffer due to our success and failure stories. Super successful people often have failed relationships because they don’t have time for anything else. Failures are a stepping stone in one’s life but it also means that relationships often take a backseat when conquering the world looks more promising. But the more significant question is – who defines success and failure in our life? And, do you really want to define it at the expense of something which is so priceless and vulnerable like our relationships?
‘The Color Wheel’ is streaming on MUBI and is watchable if you succeed in identifying yourself with those characters.
The Role of a Woman
The most complete human being in this world is a ‘Woman’. I think it is not a question of ‘why’, the more important question is ‘why not’.
‘Bhumika’ is a dazzling portrayal of a woman who despite all the talent and prowess, struggles in a world which is dominated by man and his patriarchal legacy.
It is a story of a woman who is trying to survive in a society which is so smeared and engulfed in male roots. Despite being a star and a celebrity, life is not a cakewalk for her. In fact, the subjugation and the preconceived notions towards a successful woman is perilous in its own way. In many ways, ‘Bhumika’ is way ahead of its time and feels so painfully relevant in 2021. Yes, the landscape of the world has changed but human mind still lurks behind in darkness and discrimination. In the process, she never finds true love, instead she is clobbering around in the arms of desire, which adds very little meaning to her adrift life.
Shyam Benegal’s mastery and Smita Patil’s audacity is a hallmark of this bio-classic. I can easily paint this as Benegal’s best but am just being careful as his other films tend to compete with each other.
Signs
You just know when things fall in place.
There are so many inevitable pieces that come together to form a shape of positivity when such indications prevail upon us.
Things start becoming white, the sky weeps with tears of hope and tranquility, and we submit to the rays of rejuvenation. You can say, it’s a human language that talks little and emits plenty.
Yes, I have come to believe that goodness is arriving early with a whiplash of healthy fortunes.
The Forgettable Year
One hell of a year it was! An agonisingly busy one, to say the least.
An unscrupulous virus ambushed the world, the planet came to a standstill as millions of lives were disrupted and our lives were never the same again.
The Pandemic has changed the dynamics of how this world operated. Today, we call it the post ‘Covid’ era. And, we are still reeling under the fatal consequences of the infamous virus. Human lives were lost, millions lost their jobs, economies faltered and in a way, our lives were tragically transformed in to bubbles, zones and tiers.
Usually, my year end report promises to be an interesting and curious fanfare. But, to my dismay, the virus did dominate the proceedings this year.
Yet, I am hopeful and remain optimistic. We are going to bring this virus down, and emerge stronger than ever before. As we speak, vaccines are getting rolled out and soon, we will see the end of what I would coin as ‘The Catastrophe of Modern Times.’
I am going to sign off with a short review, that looks behind the unfortunate scenes in 2020 and vows to look forward to a more encouraging and redeeming 2021. Reclamation will be the most difficult order of the forthcoming year but we, as human beings, will surpass and survive these painful moments.
In a way, we will never forget 2020!
Tenet – Incredibly Predictable
Sorry, Christopher Nolan! ‘Tenet’ was a visible disappointment. With or without COVID-19, I still think that the film would have bombed.
I am okay with the theme as such – a futuristic thriller that means business when it sets the ball rolling to save this world from a so called ‘Nuclear Holocaust’ with a relentless intelligence agent who despite all the vanity around, still believes that he is the elusive protagonist, and a distraught wife who is willing to go beyond the imaginable.
I am okay with personal vendetta being the object of focus but somewhere, the thin line between reality and excellence of technology gets super exposed. Midway, I started having doubts if I was indeed watching a Nolan film or one of those rehash flicks from a Michael Bay studio.
Still, it is watchable just once for having the tag of Christopher Nolan. But, I am keen to quickly move over and wait for better products to seep in.
Andha Naal – Classic Corner
A very early adaptation of crime and treason set in the backdrop of Second World War, Andha Naal (அந்த நாள்) was the first film noir in Tamil cinema.
Even though it is heavily inspired from Kurosawa’s acclaimed ‘Rashomon‘, it was a landmark film that has since achieved a cult status. Inspiring performances from the lead actors (Remember, the thespian was a relative newcomer then) sets this thriller apart, and is such a breather in today’s age of irrelevant and dead potboilers.
Must watch – streaming in MUBI, you might still get it on YouTube if you are wiling to compromise on quality. I wouldn’t!
Voice of God
I grew up listening to his maverick voice in the cassettes that Appa used to play in the vintage tape recorder that used to be our constant companion in those days. He used to hum the songs along with Rafi Saab’s inimitable flair and in turn, I used to hum them, along with Appa and Rafi Saab.
Thus began, a beautiful and a sublime relationship with a voice which was so near to God and yet felt so close to human feelings. In fact, Rafi’s voice has been a household name for 3 decades before my relationship with his voice could even reach a semblance of familiarity.
His influence on me as a vocalist and a musician is something which cannot be described in words. It is not that I don’t appreciate other singers. In fact, from Manna Dey to Arijit Singh, I found all of them special and gifted in their own ways. But, for me, Rafi Saab was always above the mainstream, in a different class, in a different hemisphere. His voice had magic in it and he had this ability to weave it on us with such profound impact that we were left reeling for his exploits as a playback singer.
From Bharat Bhushan to Guru Dutt, Dev Anand to Rajendra Kumar, Dilip Kumar to Shammi Kapoor. He was the quintessential mantra in framing the careers of these superstars.
Rafi’s voice was meant to redeem human emotions, and lend a meaning to every expression. Melancholy or joy, sorrow or happiness, celebration or tribute, anguish or glee, love or deceit – Rafi’s voice could effortlessly oscillate between myriad human tendencies with absolute elan. His, was perhaps, the voice that could get the dead to rise from the ashes and sing before perishing again in to oblivion.
Rafi Saab, Happy Birthday!
My Santa came in early..
This is happiness.
Watching him grow, watching him smile, watching him enjoy all those super little moments, which when beautifully summed up, is called Life.
We love you for making us smile, every day.
Paradise is not far away
In these troubled and turbulent times, a tiny shred of hope is the most compelling tonic we could use.
I am always looking around for those sunshine spots, the silver lining in the most vulnerable places.
The days of respite and turn-around are not far away.
Hope is paramount. Trivial and Powerful.
Maradona – Genius and Rebel
Maradona was not just a football player, he was perhaps the most attractive and magnetic personality the game of football has ever seen.
Way back, for young kids like me, he was Football himself. He was one of the very few and rare players in the history of any sport who has enthralled millions across the world with his talent which was nothing short of absolute, sheer magic.
I would say, with his death, a part of our childhood has died. A generation will mourn as his death is a loss to everyone who has watched this wizard in action.
Yes, his health issues had a profound impact on his otherwise massively celebrated life as a footballer. Drugs, Alcohol and his reputation of being the bad boy of the sport eventually took its toll on his overall reputation. Some players are pure characters, they will just outshine everybody else on the field. Outside, they will be temperamental, abusive, laced with psychological issues. Rebellious, tainted and sunk in his own world, Maradona was never able to come out of his own destructive self, though we always ended up adoring him for what he was to us – A champion football player, a charismatic leader, precariously gifted and an awe inspiring sportsman.
Yes, the game will continue to produce greats but no one will ever come close to what Maradona was.
The game will miss you.
🙏 শুভ বিজয়া 🙏
The journey towards redemption, breaking barriers and to gather the spoils of civilisation has begun.
The process to fight and requite evil continues.
@Lifeoholic 