Of this and that

Would like to list few movies that I saw recently :-

1. Inglourious Basterds : The misspelling in the title is the Quentin Tarantino's way of saying things in his own way. Based on the World War II, its again another movie depicting plots to assassinate Hitler. And this time surprisingly the plan is executed with success. Brad Pitt is the only thing that I could remember after watching the movie.Still watchable.

2. Grave of the Fireflies: A really touching Japanese movie based on the story of two siblings - Setsuko and Seita during the World War II. The movie depicts the pain and ordeals faced by the people during that period. But the most touching being the relationship between the two siblings. One of the best anti-war movie ever made I would say.

3. Children of Heaven: Another touching movie on the two children- brother Ali and sister Zahra. Its an Iranian movie which depicts the tender relationship between the siblings when Ali accidentally lost Zahra's sneakers. Then follows the hardship and adventures to cope up the loss which includes sharing Ali's shoe together. Hiding from their parents about the loss and finally Ali participating in a race so that he can win a pair of shoes for Zahra. One of the best CHildren movie ever seen.

PS:
Down with flu(hope its the common flu), so took off from office for the first time in this calender year. I don't want any of my colleague grinning with suspicion whenever I sneeze. The thing is that too much information is sometimes dangerous. I googled "swine flu symptoms" and clicked the first page hit. It listed the all those symptoms that I am suffering from. So I just closed the page and start listening to my favourite play list.

comments

Of Manipur : the killing field of the East

This article was published in yesterday's Hindu edition. As a manipuri, I can very clearly understand what the article wanted to convey. Its very common that some serious thing happening in this eastern part of the country does go unnoticed.When the whole media is busy gathering on the Swine flu victims toll, there is this state where unconditional curfew has been imposed for more than two weeks hitting the very normalcy of the people.
SRK's detention at the Newark airport occupied the front page for few days in all major news channels and news paper. When the multiplexes and public places were halt down for a day in Mumbai due to fear of the Swine flu spread, it gathered news. But what about this eastern state being forced to shut down everything for more than 3 weeks. No one seems to bother what is happening in this tiny state. The news channels would rather telecast some cheap reality shows just for the TRPs they generate. This is not new to the manipuris and the people there. . What should the people of manipur do to gain the attention of the Government and the media?? This time its the killing of a "suspect" in a pharmacy and the death of a pregnant woman during the chase (this is what the police claims).Ask a child studying in a 5th standard, he would convincingly tell you the truth without blinking an eye. This kind of incident is not new. Its only that a local photographer happen to capture the incident in his lens.Otherwise it would go as another incident and go off as usual.
But the demand is not new. The people are protesting against the AFSPA(Armed Forces special Power Act)that is being imposed in the valley. There has been countless incidents of killing innocents in cold blood by the so called security forces. It is really heartening to find that the numbers of civilians that is being killed in the past 10 years outnumbered the underground activist and the security personnel. And this is a plain fact.
Every now and then the violence in the state erupts for one reason or another. And the Government knew that it will subside by applying plain brute force such as curfew and firing tear gases and the lathi charges. This is the cycle that is happening.
And in the midst of these, its the whole young generation that is suffering. The schools are being shut down. How can you expect them to compete with the rest of the country when the students are not allowed to study in freedom. Its a problem will surely grow out of proportion if remain unaddressed. And its the Central Government in whose hands the future of this state lies.

PS:-
People says its like a lottery in Manipur. Everyday people get killed . They say you are alive because you are lucky.

comments

3 yrs completed in Chennai

Honestly, I never thought I would be staying this long in Chennai. When I moved in , I thought I would hardly stay for a year. But then things are unpredictable and they just happen and its been 3 years of stay here in Chennai.
**************************************************************
Watched the movie "Into the wild". Its altogether a different movie. Its based on a real life story of Christopher McCandless. Its about leaving everything behind and going to the nature's arm. Some quotes are really touching especially this one "I read somewhere... how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong... but to feel strong. " Still thinking if it is really possible to leave everything behind and trying to live in the wild on your own. But then another quote "The core of mans' spirit comes from new experiences" just leave me wondering.
***************************************************************

PS:-
Its not that it happened the first time, its just that it happened to Shah Rukh Khan. It just happen that the Immigrant Officer didn't knew Shah Rukh Khan. It just happen that his name is Khan.

comments

Of Love these (and those) days

I have not been watching any new Bollywood movies recently, the last one being (Bachna ae Haseenon). Yesterday watched "Love Aaj Kal" without (carrying) any expectations.

I don't know how to chew on this movie "Love Aaj Kal". Literally it means "Love these days".But the movie tried to portray "Love those days" too. So an apt title should have been "Love aaj aur Kal". News says it has broken all the records these year surpassing "Ghajini". Sometimes, you don't have to try too hard to get a hit.

And about the actors, Saif has done well. But we have seen him in similar avatars earlier (in Hum-Tum) playing a care free lad (read khula shaand). Then his role as the young sardar who is very serious in love too fits quite well. About Deepika, some people say she is good at keeping mum. As soon as she utters, all the charms fumes out. Her voice is not that ear friendly but anyways I'm always a fan of hers. And there was this lady Harleen Kaur. Just came to know that she is not an Indian but a Brazillian model Giselle Monteiro. She was here and there, but nowhere in the movie :)

And about the songs in the movie, I don't remember any :). Maybe I need to listen them again and again to appreciate it. So on a whole, its a movie you can still watch.


******************************************************
PS:
Once you do a magic, you are expected to do it everytime. Sometimes expectations become a burden.

comments

"All that is gold does not glitter"

Started reading "The LOTR" again. This time its the Strider whose character inspires me. Although Frodo and Gandalf have been my favourite but the Strider a.k.a Aragorn has the guts in him. He is the one who went to the mountain of death and convinced those who have abondoned. Neither does he panic in the times of peril. It was he who challenged the indominable army of Orcs at the Black Gate to divert the attention of Sauron so that Frodo and Sam can reach the mountain of doom to melt the One Ring.

Rightly, Gandalf had wriiten about him the following lines :-

"All that is gold does not glitter,
not all those who wander are lost;
the old that is strong does not wither,
deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
a light from the shadows shall spring;
renewed shall be blade that was broken,
the crownless again shall be king.”

-JRR Tolkien, LOTR

PS:
Some people are just like Aragorn. They remain quite and show their true qualities at difficult times. Lets hope that Michael Schumacher will hit the F1 track again like a champion. All the very best.

comments

Down the memory lane

I was just trying to remember few names of my childhood friends.Vicky,his brother Nicky,Milan,Sana,Rakesh,Rishikesh,Akham,Mayashang.I can vividly remember each one of them with their faces.I grew up in the State Govt. Quarters located in the outskirts of Imphal city on a foot-hill. The houses were arranged in rows facing one another with narrow lanes between them. All the houses were of same design and of the same size. The Quarters were meant for the State Govt. employees who were posted in the city from remote places. When I look back I feel very lucky to have grown up in a place where people from diverse background meet. One of our next door neighbour was a Muslim and the other was a Christian.At that very young age the only difference I could make between the Eid and the Christmas was that on Eid we were invited by uncle Abdul and on the Christmas by uncle James. And on the Hindu festival - like the Holi or the Durga pooja, we were the host. There was never a religion or cast barrier.

And the other thing that I can proudly say about my childhood locality is that it made me harder in various aspects. Our playgrounds include the vast paddy fields in the front and the dense jungle in the back. I remember a game called "Fire - Fire" - in which the teams were divided into two and then both the teams hide in their respective areas. Then, whenever you saw someone from the other team, you have to shout "Fire" with the guy's name. Then that guy was supposed to be dead. The team with last guy standing was the winner. I don't know if today's children are still playing those games.

Then we use to play various sports depending on the TV telecasts. Sometimes the cricket fever and sometimes the Foot-ball fever. There was never a day when you were short of friends. I still remember my first Man-of-the-match award :).
And how can I forget those fights that happens on a regular basis. I had a fight with almost everyone of them. But then within a week we were use to be friends again.


And I use to go to school in a bicycle. How can I forget those moments when I learnt riding without using my hands. It was a indeed a gr8 achievment. I can still feel riding under the blue sky. I can still feel the fresh air blowing from the east. Sometimes the wind in in your side and sometimes against you.

I don't know where are those friends. Its been a long long time that I have heard anything from them. They must be busy with their daily routine like me. I hope to meet them again.

Some things become traits and it very necessary to keep them intact.

Cheers,
Tiken

comments

Jaane kya baat hai

Some songs are highly infectious. Its one of the numbers from Lata Mageshkar from the movie Sunny. The lyrics is amazing and the music touching.Its one of those songs that you can listen over and over again.It goes like this:

Jaane Kya Baat Hai, Jaane Kya Baat Hai
Neend Nahin Aati Badi Lambi Raat Hai

Saari Saari Raat Mujhe Isne Jagaya
Jaise Koi Sapna Jaise Koi Saaya
Koi Nahin Lagta Hai Koi Mere Saath Hai
Neend Nahin Aati Badi Lambi Raat Hai...

Dhakdhak Kabhi Se Jiya Dol Raha Hai
Ghungat Abhise Mera Khol Raha Hai
Door Abhi To Piya Ki Mulaqat Hai
Neend Nahin Aati Badi Lambi Raat Hai...

Jab Jab Dekhoon Maein Yeh Chand Sitare
Aaisa Lagta Hai Mujhe Laaj Ke Mare
Jaise Koi Doli Koi Baraat Hai
Neend Nahin Aati Badi Lambi Raat Hai...

comments