Sunday, December 16, 2007

Dus Kahaniyan: film review

The good thing about these kinds of collage-films is that you would love at least some of the stories, if not all. So, it would never be a total wash-out if not fully paisa vasool.

Amongst the 10 stories, I liked Strangers in the night the most. It’s the story of a couple who have decided to share a secret moment of their life (over drinks) that had left an indelible mark on them. It’s the lady’s turn this year. As the story unfolds, it appears that the lady had a few moments of lust in the waiting room of a railway station. However, the twist in the tale at the end is beautiful. I won’t disclose it or else you would blame me for ruining the fun.

Others like Gubbare (Nana Patekar is simply superb) and Rice Plate (return of the adorable Shaban Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah pair after a long gap) would also touch a cord of your heart. The former tells to live life to the fullest rather than wasting it on quarrels over li’l things. The later shows how useless religious stubborn-ness is.

Even Matrimony (the film opens with this story based on infidelity), Lovedale (with a ghost touch) and Pooranmashi (how the life of a daughter, about to be married, gets ruined because of the mother who decides to follow her heart) are well-made, though the stories are somewhat run-of-the-mills.

Finally, my opinion on the film: Go ahead and watch it. However, if your interest lies in collage-films, don’t forget to see Teen Deewarein by Nagesh Kukonoor. It’s a lovely film and the way the stories get interlinked at the end is too good to be missed.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Who am I

It's been quite sometime now since I started blogging. I don't remember the exact muhurat when I got hooked to scribbling on my blog. However, one thing is for sure: blogging is now an enjoyable hobby for me and I look forward to putting my thoughts in this space.

So, I thought that why not scribble something about myself today and let my fellow bloggers know a bit more about me (my apologies if you are bored to death when you get down to the last line!!).

To begin with, I am the eldest daughter of my parents (we are three sisters). I had my schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya (in Delhi and Kolkata). School was very boring, mainly because I never had my share of fun as I was the padaku kind. Nevertheless, looking back today, those days seem so much blissful now that I yearn to be back to that time again (sigh...as I can't actually!!)

College was drag as no boys were around for romance (it was a girls' college). Not that I was looking to do that but when I heard my friends seeing some guys, going steady with their partners or getting proposals, I wondered..mera number kab ayega? Well, till date, it hasn't come.

Then came the taste of freedom when I entered the job scenario. I started my career as a teacher in a missionary school. I had to slog hard as we were no better than kolhu ka bail. I spent around 6.5 years as a teacher..teaching science subjects , spoken English, Personality Development and the likes.

I chanced upon content writing and started doing freelancing in between my teaching assignments. I liked the work quite a bit and switched to it as a full timer. I have found, much to my astonishment, how poorly paid teachers' jobs are!! On one hand people and our society glorifies a teacher but when pay packet is considered, it's nothing but peanuts (as a fresher in the content writer's field, I earned more than what I was earning lastly during my role as a teacher). I am on the verge of completing a year as a content writer and I am quite sure that the financial freedom which this field has given me would not have come even after a decade as a teacher. Of course, my love and passion for writing has made it easier. Otherwise, only money would not have been able to bind me for long!!

So, that's what I have to tell about myself at present. Would scribble some more the next time as I ahve a lot of colorful events to share with all of you...events that relate to my childhood, adolescence and .....

Well, keep guessing till I am ready to scribble more.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Quit Smoking

Recently, I read a news that a survey has found a new reason for baldness. People who smoke regularly stand a greater chance of becoming bald as compared to the non-smokers. I can vouch for the truth of this statement as I have seen many IT pros going the same way, thanks to their regular habit of smoking.

So, if the Smoking is injurious to health sign has not done any good to you, think again. To stay away from your regular puff has now got another reason in its favor.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Burnt-face monkey

Yes, you read it right!!!

That's how I would call myself now-a-days (Mukhpora bador, in Bengali). Actually, some rashes appeared around my mouth about 2 months back which has got worse by now (already, saw three dermatologists though). The whole region is in a bad condition now. Hopefully, the doc that I'm gonna meet this weekend would help me get back to my normal self soon.

Till that happens, I would continue to resemble my ancestors (no pun intended)!!!

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

December Delight

Ever since I have stepped into December, I am feeling quite happy and energized. The reasons are many. Firstly, career wise I'm having a ball. Then, I am preparing plans for a short trip during the end of the month. A lot of adda sessions are on the anvil too. Last but not the least, my li'l sister has returned home from abroad for a month. So, that I believe explains to some extent my being on the seventh heaven.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Mindless Forwards

I often wonder why do we hit the forward button so many times without sparing a thought for the content that we wish others to read. Has it only become a habit or something else lies behind the curtain?

Well, before going further, let me admit that I'm also a culprit. Even some days back, I used to send forwarded mails by the dozens to friends that included a plethora of things: friendship quotes, good luck wishes, to avert being pauper or my own death and blah, blah, blah......

Of all these, I was quite uneasy with the mails that asked me to send it to a limited number of people failing which bad luck or death would stare me. Also, some miracles were said to await me after 10/15 days, which sadly never came. So, one fine day (I don't remember exactly when), it dawned upon me to shut out this mindless fear. The first mail I ignored threatened that the ghost would stare the daylight out of me and leave me dead. I waited for the ghost in the night but alas! she (yes, it was a she-ghost) was too busy to pay a visit!!

The next few mails kept me on the tenterhooks yelling that breaking the forward-the-mail-chain would bring endless bad luck that could be loss of job, poor health, monetary problem, relationship troubles and lot more. Again, my better sense prevailed and I renewed my pledge of sticking to my decision. Thankfully, by God's grace, my self confidence hasn't taken a beating since then and I have been able to conquer this habit of forwarding threat-mails (the name threat-mails coz they threat you of so many things).

Amidst all these, I do forward mails that touch a cord of my heart and which I think would make the reader feel a few things for themselves. But for now, it's goodbye to those mindless forwards!