Piku

I watched it... I loved it. I watched it again, I enjoyed it. I watched it yet again and laughed and cried like it was the first time and I happen to watch it once more and I didn't want to leave the comfort of my couch and the movie for anything else. 

From the time I have penned this line down I have watched it a few more times and have not felt anything different to what I have written....

Some films do that to you and Piku was definitely one. I have a few more movies like this which make it to the special list. This movie is ( was- as it's taken me months to finish) so fresh in my mind that the thoughts had to be penned down. 

There isn't really a reason why I loved it, perhaps there are one too many or probably the truth is that  I can end the explanation in saying the simplicity of the story did it for me.

In a world that's so consumed by whats the next big thing happening in one's life, the every day simple messy routine of life is beautifully captured in this film. It makes me yearn for that lost comfort of plainness, of being direct, of simplicity in everyday life and to an extent in my parallel life of movies... of good old Hindi movies. 

Everything about Piku confirms it's my kinda film. I'm a total sucker for simple life moments. Routine can be boring to many, but I can put my hand on heart and say I am comfortable, cozy and happy with routine and in fact the lack of it sometimes can be disturbing. I just crave that feeling of surety that a routine brings.  The routine in a common man's middle class life in India is totally relatable to my memories and that is precisely what I got out of Piku. 

I adored Deepika Padukone, yes! I am a fan of hers and for reasons more than one. For a start, I do believe she can act and there couldn't have been a better person for the role of Piku. She carried it out with ease, she was real and her body language throughout the film fit the character to a T. Though you think of it as a role, as a character - there was definitely an element of 'this can be anyone of us' which she kept alive through out the movie. The character of Piku was practical yet emotional, irritable yet lovable, demanding yet soft. The writer could not have painted a better picture of a person in that situation. 

Irrfan and Amitabh are in full form with their performances. Who ever cast these 3 key characters has got it bang on. 

I loved how modern the setting was - the conversations, the style of life very rooted, very Indian and yet open and modern. How I wished  my family was like that! I loved how Bhaskor just openly says 'there are many reasons for me not to like you' to his sister-in-law.  Does that really happen in a family? I am sure we can start a WW4 if that was said to anyone at mine!

The film also captures a family living in a different city where the culture, the language, the attitude of people is different , just slightly different for the spark, the perception in the society. No matter how far you go away and adopt to a new way of life and living, the roots always pull you down. That comparison that you make, the pride that your home, your hometown provides you a level of comfort and joy that is unmatched for anywhere else. 

The movie is constantly evolving and throwing something at you non-stop. The story can be a one liner, but the number of aspects of day to day life that it connects and reaches out to cannot be summed up. Whether it's about parents being selfish about what their children should do for them, or being the open-mindedness of a parent to let go and treat their child as an adult who can make decisions of their own, the clash between the members of -in-law families and the detached love and affection people have in nuclear families are well etched in the story.  There is something to relate to in every other frame and so this movie, though a movie,an art of fiction rubs a warm sort of feeling every time I watch it.

If you haven't watched it and if you are one who gets mushy on simple life's day to day moments and mundane-ness go watch it!

Highway

 I don't usually write a review about a movie or a book as I don't think I am worthy enough to publish my say on someone's hard work.   This isn't a review, though I am happy to recommend anyone reading this to watch the movie - if you haven't already. 

Highway, is perhaps the first movie that made me think I should write about. Now, let's be clear,  I am not saying it is the best movie ever. I would probably not go away and watch it 100 times over like I do with a few other movies, some that I had written about a while ago. I didn't love all the songs, I did think it was slow paced, I thought it could have been shorter, which, by the way, I think about every Hindi movie I watch these days. But, in spite of sounding so negative about it so far, there were enough things in the movie that made me think about it, made me go back to it even when it was over. 

This movie made me connect with it in more ways than one. I could relate with the character, with the free spirit, with the travels and tales that come with it, with taking each day as it comes and mainly with 'NOT having a plan'. It must sound like I live in a fancy fairy tale taking each day as it comes, not knowing where I am headed, just go with the flow and all that. But, in all honestly, when I give it a thought or two, I have been doing that for more years than I care to remember. 

Traveling is something that can catch up with most people pretty easily. It's addictive. You plan a travel, make your bookings and go away for a while and I bet, a few days after you return, you're most likely browsing and reading about the next potential travel if not booking it. 

I love to travel too but my travel needs to have a factor of nature to it. A week in the most expensive beach resort just does not attract me. Instead, tell me we are going for a cycling tour of 3 days for 8hrs a day and I am all up for it. Guess you know what I am talking about.  That thrill to experience the place in your own way, by touching it, but connecting it with simple things like climb a hill, wash your feet on a brook, look up at the sky and observe the stars and just marvel at the solid mountain range that stands so strong. Highway brought out that person who enjoys going out and about and relishing the moment - whatever the place and situation has to offer, feeling that place and taking in what it has to offer. 

One of my wildest fantasies have been to hitchhike a ride on a lorry (well... a truck!) in India and voila! the movie is shot mostly on a truck and the road and the pit stops of this journey. The way the cargo lorry system operates in India makes me wonder. It probably is such a lonely job, when you see those drivers take these truck loads to many miles away with almost a week or so on the road and the only point of contact with people, the communication and interaction would be when they stop for a refreshment, that little cup of tea may be. There must be so many stories associated with a travel like that, but it makes me think if they really think about it as an adventure. Do they not think of it as their job? their Bread & butter? Surely, it's hard,being away from family, being on the road constantly without really a familiar place, I bet they do it for a living and not for the kick that the travel gives you for the likes of you and me. This character is perfectly portrayed by Ranveer Hooda in the film. You know that this man holds many stories with him behind that hard exterior one sees. Haven't we seen many such people, many of these lorry drivers taking a little break at a dhaba on the highway? 

Imtiaz Ali, the director, must be a wanderer of sorts. The way he has brought in the music of the road, of the region blend in to the main story makes it so real. The things that Veera, played by Alia Bhatt ends up doing - talking to herself, gape at a hill and the next minute you are climbing it, the many stops for chai, sitting on a rock and just looking at the scenery or should I say the non-existence of a scenery. Something as simple as making Maggi in a little hut up the hill or the fact that she doesn't think about the next day. She's living that moment like she's in a dream world captured me really dearly. 

"Jahan se tum mujhe laye ho, mein wahan wapas nahi jaana chahti.

 Jahan bhi le ja rahe ho, wahan pahunchna nahi chahti.

 Par yeh raasta, yeh bahut accha hai.

 Mein chahti hoon ki yeh raasta kabhi khatam na ho."

These words did it for me.  I cannot remember the number of times I have wished that the ride never ended, that feeling of coming to an end and not being able to re-create the moment happens when we reach the destination. All we have left is the memories of the road. 

“Life is a journey, not a destination.” 

― Ralph Waldo Emerson 

How true was this man saying this? I don't think I agree with this more at this stage in my life. Let's see what a few years down holds for me. But for now, I am happy to stick to this.

                               

Filmy Chakkar

I hear myself saying this every time I watch a few movies, which I choose to talk about in this blog.  

I am no different to the many Indians who love watching, talking, reading about Bollywood films. I owe my love for this genre of films from my parents who in their days were huge movie buffs. My mom is one even today. My father fondly teased her and termed her the 'film encyclopedia' and she always loved the attention we all gave her for the knowledge (wink) she has. 

I won't write about the 100s of movies that I like and don't mind watching over and over, but these are always on my mind when I talk about good movies.....so here we go...

The ones that make me laugh like its a new joke - Golmaal and Choti Si Baat- couldn't choose between them as they are equally good to me. Golmaal is brilliant! A moustache is used to weave the story through and the turn of events depicted is simply hilarious.Choti Si baat shows the simple characters of life.....I'm sure most of us have been through a day when you love someone but just can't gather the courage to mention it. This sensitive feeling is so comical in this movie that it makes me laugh everytime I watch it.

The ones that make me sob and cry as if it's my own pain - Anand and Masoom. I think I can write a whole article about Anand....hard to mention if it's the dialogues, the music, Rajesh Khanna's acting, the simplicity of the characters or all of it that makes me watch it over and over again....everytime, I have a tear in my eye. Masoom - really hard to describe this one. The pain that goes through a little child when he is not accepted by his own father is heart breaking. 

The ones that leave a void every time I watch it - Deewar - Circumstances can make anything out of anyone. It's not being good or bad, doing the right thing or wrong, sometimes as a person, we don't have the control on the flow of events in life and this movie shows that at every stage. It leaves a dent in me and I really feel for Amitabh's character. Don't remember how many times I have watched it. 

The ones for all the lovey-dovey stuff - QSQT and Maine Pyar Kiya - Well....how can the girl in me me run away from movies like these? Totally adore these two out of the zillion such romantic, cheesy films that bollywood churns out every year. Both these films had a few things in common - fresh faces at that time (good looking too!), lovely songs, the happiness, the pain that love stories come with and a small act of bravery when 2 people love  - all this might sound soooooo damn filmy, but I admit that I like it for these reasons and none else.

If you haven't watched any of these already  - I recommend it!