Movie Review (Hindi)

Mary Kom

It is rarely that I get to see two Bollywood movies back to back which I enjoy. Also both movies being women oriented is also an interesting coincidence. So, soon after Mardani, I get to see this wonderful movie, Mary Kom, based on the life of India's champion boxer, Mary. 

When I had heard about the making of the movie, I read that Priyanka Chopra was to play Mary Kom. Frankly I had my misgivings about her being cast in this role. And thank goodness I was proved wrong! 

I do wish all women were blessed with such an understanding husband as Mary Kom's. He takes over the household chores and looking after the twin sons and forces Mary to stick to her discipline!! Is he for real? Apparently he is. Also like all great achievers, Mary has a super coach who keeps her 'boxing fit'. 

The movie brought all elements of good cinema together. The script was tight, the editing close, the acting just right and the direction couldn't be better. 

This makes me more confident of looking forward to movies revolving around women. There was Kahaani, English Vinglish, Queen, Mardani and now Mary Kom. Thanks to the changing times... Here's to WOMEN!!!!!

Movie Review (Hindi)

MARDANI

When I heard about this movie starring Rani Mukherjee, I was instantly reminded of the Hindi peom weitten by Subhadra Kumari Chauhan on Rani Laxmibai. There was a refrain in the poem... Khoob ladi mardani, woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi. I wondered at the simile. Was the earlier Mardani going to be reflected in this Mardani? And thank God she was! One of the few occasions when a Hindi film is carried on a woman's shoulders and the woman holds a position of power being a police officer who takes on the menace of trafficking of the girl child.
The movie impressed because of a crisp script, smart editing, clear direction and capable acting, both by the actress and the villain. Commercial movies make sense when they deal with such socially relevant topics. The more it is publicized, the more people will watch it and somewhere deep in the mind something will change. All those 100 crore clubs (or more) nonsensical movies make no difference to society other making millions for the producers and actors and creating other wanna be actors mirroring themselves after those stars.
Here's to more Mardanis!!! Thank you Rani Mukherjee. You never cease to amaze me!

Teach For India - Teach to Lead

We Are... On the Path!!!

As I begin my eventful journey as a 2014 Teach for India Fellow, the following lines will clearly 'reflect' what the journey so far has been like.

Fingers flew on the keyboard
The clock tick tocked
Racing against 11 pm
My deadline.
Seconds before the two hands meet
I’m done.

 Hey, what d’you know?
Got a call to take a test!!
Again – racing against time
Phew! Could have done better...
But am getting no younger.

 Hello, hello,
You’ve made it girl!
To the assessment centre, no less.
Then the day’s grilling is through
Here’s the day of reckoning.
Sonali, how are you feeling?
Really? Why?
Coz, you are now a part of TFI,
That’s why!

 All my bags packed,
I’m driven away for 5 weeks
Into the hills and far away.
A place called Flame,
Neat and concrete
and green as well.

 Institute 1, 270 of us...
Purpose?
We’ll find out soon enough.
The CEO introduces TFI
My family now.
What I gather is
A transformational path
I have to take up to make a change
Change lives, change mindsets
To make the world a better place
To breathe in.

 I see young people, in their 20s
Motivated people
jumping into a cause so fierce,
I wonder-
Will I be able to keep up?

 And so the days unfold-
Breakfast at 8, sessions from 9,
Lunch at 12, sessions again
Dinner at 8, then work.

 Week two, we begin summer school
Which is cool!
And from bed to breakfast
To bus to school, school to class,
Class to bus, back to Flame
Then to lunch, next a nap.
Off to study, then to a circle.
Plan a lesson
And rehearse.
Dinner in between,
Oh yes, and print!
Finally fall into bed.
Alarm at 4.30,
need I say more?

 Mastering the LP was a hard task to master
As the Opening had a hook
And INM got shorter.
The GP helped our students and was long
But the IP was the assessment
SRAS and strong.
So Math it was, followed by Writing,
RF and RC followed untiring.

 Today, a transformational leader I want to be
with almost a 4 on personal transformation,
with Collective action I think it’s a 3
While again a 3 with educational equity.
With competencies being drilled into me
Through reflection,
I can see myself growing, making a connection.

 As I think of building relationships,
creating a classroom culture,
investing stakeholders and looking at teamwork
I stretch my Sense of Possibility
to heights beyond probability.
I now move towards
the Goal and the Vision
for my students and for me
as I turn into a teacher
who is a leader.

As the training comes to an end
Into the real world we shall go,
Like the charge of the light brigade
Only spreading love, not hate.

So many friends have I made here
So many trainers, managers
All happy, motivated and helpful.
Thank you all!
I promise you, educational equity
Will remain my call.

Movie Review (English)

X-Men: Days of Future Past

I am a big fan of the X men. I have always wished to be a mutant with secret powers that go way beyond human. Well, that wasn’t to be. So I live vicariously through the marvelous X-Men. The latest movie, X-Men: Days of Future Past stood out in the concept of giving me an overdose of X-Men. There were X-Men from the present and X-Men from the past and together they fight the Sentinels who are a huge giant force created to wipe out mutants. Professor X and Magneto coming together was such a wonderful idea! As  usual, the sound effects, the cinematography and the actors leave one asking for more. Wolverine and Mystique, of course, remain my favourites.

P.S.:Thank you Marvel comics!

Movie Review (Hindi)

Two States

No, I haven't read the book by Chetan Bhagat. That's a good thing 'coz I could not compare the two. This was the first time I saw Alia Bhatt and second time I watched Arjun Kapoor. And I was not disappointed!! I am surprised! Both the actors were good at what they were told to do. In fact it seemed too easy for them. The story did not have much to say, what with the regular North and South Indian divide, though the casting was well thought out. But I got nothing extra out of it. The parents are just typical or stereotyped Punjabis with their strange ways of looking at vegetarian food and skin colour and the Tamilians with their grumpiness looking down on punjabi culture. Why so stereotypical? And are parents of such highly accomplished youngsters really so narrow in their outlook? Never mind, it was an entertaining movie with good acting skills showcased, which happens quite rarely (in Bollywood). So it was worth it.
Hope both Alia and Arjun get good directors in their other ventures, though that again is a rarity in Bollywood.

Movie Review (English)

12 Years a Slave

A lot was expected but I was disappointed. And I realize there is a reason. Atrocities shown in the movie based on colour are heart rending. But in my country, such atrocities have been continuing for centuries. Here it is not based on colour, but the caste you are born in. The so-called upper caste has always tried to squash the spirit of the so-called lower caste and thinks of this as a God given right. Maybe that is the reason I did not connect so much emotionally with this movie because I have heard of atrocities much worse than shown in this movie. What really moved me though were the various phases that Solomon, the protagonist, goes through. From a free, well established man, he is sold as a slave and given away to the highest bidder. He goes through various white households, meets and understands those working as slaves, undergoes punishments, gets rewards and looks out for his survival. His change in personality is remarkable. His release from slavery is quite sudden but a relief. That it received the Oscar was a great moment, but it was a tough call.

Movie Review (English)

Dallas Buyers Club

It was a joy to see one of my favourite actors reach the top of his acting quotient. Matthew McConaughey has always dazzled as a romantic hero, full of chutzpah. But for him to attempt this movie was so out of character, I was floored. Thank you Matthew for having shown there is no ceiling to acting. He plays the real life Ron Woodroof, an HIV afflicted electrician and a gambler at a rodeo. He achieved a body that looked like it hadn't been fed for quite some time. His bones and skin body played a big part in letting him get into character. Jared Leto who played the role of a transexual, Rayon, with aplomb, is at once shunned by Ron and then goes on to become a big part of his life. Jennifer Garner comes up as the humane doctor who doesn’t necessarily prescribe to the FDA’s findings. Given 30 days to live, our man lives for 7 years using alternative medicine to boost his immune system, instead of using FDA approved drugs that randomly kill the cells of the body. During this time he works at providing these medicines to those in a similar condition and forms a Buyers Club that charges money and supplies these illegal medicines. In the process, he keeps dodging the law which tries to prevents him from selling, never mind that they work.

Yes, the Oscar was definitely deserved.