Perspectives and perceptions

For all these years, I've been hearing this oft repeated phrase "Gone with the wind" and I knew it was in reference to the book written by Margaret Mitchell. It was just about fifteen days ago that I finally saw the movie! The first thing that striked me about the movie was the price! I wanted to buy it from the shop, and it was for Rs. 1,500! It must have been some collector's edition, nevertheless, I didn't have so much money to spend on it... So I ended up renting it for the night, little did I know that the entire movie is around 5 and 1/2 hours long... I sit to watch this movie, and it takes me into this different world that I knew very little about. I had only read a little about the Civil War and about the differences that made South and North America.. There was a short introduction to the movie, enabling viewers like me to understand the contexts. Another reference though not so prominent was a book that I had read a couple of years ago (which I re-read m

Amidst news about the recent killings and deaths, another one stands out. A man dies while trying to save couples from drowning at Bandstand , a popular seafront promenade at Bandra, Mumbai. Why? Because of Love? Or space for love? Is it a crime to want to be with the person you love? Is it a crime to touch, feel or kiss that person? I thoroughly disagree. I would agree if people said is it okay to make love in front of people, nudity and obscenity and not acceptable, but kissing, hugging and holding hands is anything but that! We see it on T.V. everyday, so what's wrong in seeing it happen in front of our eyes? Hypocritical as people are, they shun the couples away from every place... Gardens, Parks, Promenades and any public space you can think of. What's the outcome? Couples are forced to spend time together in dark, lonely paths, go far out in depths where there aren't too many people, sit in dark theaters watching some crap movie, go to lonesome beaches...

Baghdadi (Colaba) This is a small restaurant, quite an old place, not flashy, simple to the point of being considered unworthy of entering, but the food is mind-blowing! Whatever gravy, meat you choose to eat, you must have the tandoori roti, it is as big as a plate it itself, and it's hot and soft. For those of you who're not familiar with this roti, typically even at the best of places, this roti (unless buttered) becomes hard and stretches like rubber the moment it is cold, but at this place, it stays soft forever! and trust me, if you don't have a great appetite, this one roti is more than enough for you! :) The chicken is tender, and it's cooked really well, all in all a great package deal! Badshah Juice Centre (Crawford Market) This place is very famous for their (obviously) juices, while I haven't tasted any, I've heard they're really good. But the other day I had the Royal Falooda here and I can't stop raving about it! It was awesome. Nothing unn

Dreaming of pastures and the open skies, Wondering when I'll have the time to fly, An outlet for my energy I seek, A fresh breath of freedom I breathe, Struggling amidst the chaos to break free, Getting entwined in the bonds, I feel, Patience, peace and solitude I want, Not hurried times and a mind wrought with thoughts, Like a drain that eats into my time, Usurps my creativity, my shrine, The clear blue skies, The cold hitting breeze, awaken me, within me, Hearing my own sound, speak within me, I ask for calmness and silence I receive, "The calmness is within you, you are who you seek" Sitting with myself I now realise, an organised plan never wins the prize, dealing with things the way they come, responding and not reacting is the saying to hum, Peace, quiet, calm, now, Think, feel and act, The time is now, Fear, now not.

We had a photo shoot in college today, organised by the Annual Magazine Committee for publishing in our college magazine, it's amazing to realise that this is my last year in college, and I was once part of the team that organised this event and today, it's my chance to sit with my batch and get our picture clicked which will be one of the images, that we carry with us on our journey... The entire album can be viewed here...

Last year I'd written about my experience of the festival, and today as I went for this festival, there're host of other things that I've explored! I went to see the festival and the nearby places, with a friend of mine, and the glimpses of our visit are here! A few shots of what caught my eye, and some amazing work done by the artists. As I walked down the road towards Colaba, we saw a couple of artists painting a building, sitting on the sidewalk, just to watch them paint like that was exhilirating to say the least! Then we walked towards the festival and saw these artists painting on canvases, I've managed to grab a few shots of the paintings that he'd just done and I think they're amazing! The festival itself was full of people, food stalls, artefacts, ranging from furniture, to showpieces, chappals, bags, books, greeting cards, and the likes. There were a lot of NGOs who'd set up stalls to generate awareness as also to publicise their range of products

One of the most talked about movies, one that I saw a month later than most... It's a movie, that introduces a sensitive issue to all, one for which there is no awareness, that of dyslexia. A simple story line, revolving around the life of a 9 year old boy, a character beautifully essayed by Darsheel, who has a learning disability that no one diagnoses. He's tormented and hurt by friends, school teachers and most of all by his own father. His mother and brother, try to support him, but without knowledge of his problem, they too are unable to understand him. Shunned into a boarding school, where he faces the same opprobrium, he is lost, unhappy and terribly hurt, when he meets his temporary art teacher, played by aamir khan, who diagnoses his problem and strives to help him. Through creative methods, songs, and most importantly by allowing him to express himself through his wonderful drawings, darshan soon transforms into a boy who's comfortable with himself. Knowing what he