Remember when we were kids and we couldn't wait to grow up?

What were we thinking? Because now I have to figure out stuff like "I'm almost 21, so what is my thing?" I don't love one thing that I do. Who am I? What do I do too much of that I can be known for it? Read, eat, talk, joke? Nada. I love travel and food and surreal conversations but how much of that do I really do to be known for it? How much does life allow me to make it my thing?

Honestly, what in life do we all have enough time for to do too much of some thing? Forget that, what in life is something we have the will and resources to take out all the time in the world for?

So finally, I think: I am the girl who... what?

This is probably my quarter-life crisis.

I used to be in school three years back. I used to have dreams and enthusiasm. I used to feel like I had a plan, and that come what may, I shall stay determined.

Oh, I still am determined. Though I can't see anything in front of me, right now. I see a dead end. I have a job that I'll have to take because there isn't a choice, I have an admission offer from an ivy league graduate school that I may have to decline because I don't have the money for it, I may not have any admission chances in India because I'm so burnt out with the entrances falling right in the middle of my term exams, and I don't know where to steer my ship to. It's like college is over and I have no next step to go to; a next step that puts me on a journey.

"You know what I mean?"

This is my quarter-life crisis. Definitely.
At least it's not entirely existential.

But quarter-life, definitely.

PK: A One-Time Watch

PK is a one-time watch and its claim for that tag is the humour with which they have approached everything. Apart from that, there is nothing about the film that appealed to me: the acting, the storyline, the way issues have been handled, etc. In fact, the film tries to tackle a lot of issues in one go and fails to do justice to them; any of them. At best, PK is a mediocre movie and it's only the technical work like editing, screenplay and dialogues that make for some salvation, not Aamir Khan.

Talking about acting, the actors failed to establish a connect. Aamir Khan was good as PK, but the conceptualisation of the character wasn't brilliant; only his dialogues were. This is not even close to being his best performance. Anushka Sharma's acting doesn't let the character linger on your mind probably for her inadequate dialogue delivery. Sushant Rajput was good but barely had any screen time.

About the movie plot, it was fine, but that's all that it was. My problem with the movie was that it tried to do too much and failed at all of it. Let's take the entire idea of faith. Oh yes, PK could mobilise the entire nation with his idea of the wrong number with his common sense that he uses and others didn't prior to this, he finds all faith equally comforting and equally confusing, etc. However, the end shows the entire question of faith in religion on a stupid thing like whether the prophecy was right or wrong. Understandably, the film aimed at highlighting that being Muslim doesn't characterize one as a cheater and yet, it hinges on whether a relationship was trust-worthy or not. Putting the incredulity of the fact that the entire Pakistani embassy was on its feet at Jaggu's call, or that it was even open on a Sunday, or that this entire things is very conveniently discussed on national television like a personal dialogue, how does idealism of relationships save a situation where religious problems are in question? Ok, it's a movie so guy loves girl but would you really just throw the entire thing away if in real life, the guy really didn't love the girl?

This also reduces the lightly picked upon incident of the bomb blast and Sanjay Dutt's death in the movie. PK says God doesn't need protection, and fools like you tried to do something similar today morning with the blast. Now, such an important point gets lost because faith can easily be instead reaffirmed and a religious/spiritual mass leader can only be deemed unreasonable by the success of a love story. Sanjay Dutt's story hangs in the air like a parallel plot that was oscillated between relevance and irrelevance throughout the movie and it is denied a proper end even after it was elevated to something so urgent.

Talking about things that seem out of place, PK falling for Jaggu is also absolutely irrelevant. He didn't have to love her to have a discussion on staying on earth and finding love and changing names for that purpose to give her some cards to remind her of Sarfaraaz to hold her hand to know what's happened to reveal it during the talk.  That's called absudity. Again, another strand of thought picked up and left hanging in the middle.

So love, religion, communication, longing to go home, unrequited love and terrorism all tried to mesh together to make something wonderful. I think this project didn't quite go well.

Having said all of this, what make the movie a good one time watch is the way the logic in faith is manifested through PK. Locking his slippers with the cycle lock, looking at donation as fee for work, trying to find universality in communicating with God through wine, pooja ki thaali, etc. Makes sense and it is indeed a fresh approach to question logic of ritualistic faith.

So yes, you should watch PK. Yes, it is a good film. No, you don't have to leave your brains at home but don't expect it to be a mind blowing watch unless you're easy to please. It's just a good watch. 

Tips to travel to McLeod Ganj (Summer)

1. What to pack:

One jacket or pullover is enough. It may be needed at night.
Carry sports shoes. You will not be able to use an auto in most places. And the beauty in these places is best seen while walking. So be ready to walk a lot.
You can wear whatever you want but don't just take a lot of shorts. Do pack full-length pants, leggings or something.
Torchlights. They have practically no street lighting. Roads can be treacherous at night.
Camera. You want to. Yes.
If you're going for more than two days and plan to wash everything while you're there, pack enough clothes and undergarments. They may not dry as fast as you want to repeat them.
 
2. What/Where to eat?

EVERYTHING. Don't skip. Seriously.

3. What not to miss?

Do not miss their museum. I usually don't enjoy them much but you have to go to one at least to know what happened to Tibetans. It's extremely moving.

4. To go with a group or go solo?

However, you like it. Seriously. Though, preferably a group at night because roads are bad. No lights. Perfectly safe, though.

5. Can we bargain?
Hell, yes. You can be ripped off otherwise. Seriously. Nothing that they sell is German silver or whatever. Maybe like one in a hundred things is. Choose well but bargain.

6. ALWAYS research the weather. Again because of the roads.

7.The knitted winter stuff they sell is amazingly warm. Do buy. You cannot go wrong unless you're really unlucky.

FINALLY. What to expect? I think, a lot of fun. And peace, like it belongs to you but strangely enough, you probably never felt it before.

Have fun! Let me know what I am missing in this teeny-tiny list and do let me know what you think!
 

Oscar Run #2: Whiplash

This movie is great for a lot of reasons. There are a lot of movies that show a protagonist trying to make a career in music, getting antagonised by people that he/she comes across and then with a tremendous talent or will power that refuses to fade, they emerge victorious and shine.

But Whiplash is different, because it is not another sellout to the popular culture and trend of making movies with similar trajectory. The movie doesn't end with the stereotypical cheers from a crowd, or tears of joy, or a family standing behind you proud. It doesn't even have a parallel romantic plot that takes equal prominence. It's just not your everyday mass-manufactured film.

So it isn't a surprise to see Whiplash getting five nominations, out of which three are for the technical and ideological genius behind the screen and only one is for great acting. This is not to say that the work of the actors is secondary. They are every bit of outstanding. However, the subtlety of the movie is what steals the show and that is because of the vision of the people sitting behind the camera.

On a side note, I have to say I could not believe that so many expletives could come together and still qualify as a proper sentence. Really.

What makes it a strong contender to win best movie?

Everything in the movie- genre of music, gigs of the band, screenplay- is very real. I think it works quite well to have chosen jazz music. The film doesn't bore you at any point of time even when the music is not your run-off-the-mill choice. Jazz isn't everyone's cup of tea but the movie makes you keep watching and keep listening. The music and the relentless practice is finely balanced with the struggle and the journey that Neiman makes as a student and as a person. From simply reacting to what's being thrown at him, he learns to act.

The movie's attempt is not to expect an emotional investment from the audience. It instead gives you a great deal to watch, contemplate and then feel blown away. I was glued to the movie and I wasn't particularly sympathizing or empathizing with Neiman. The good bit is that I didn't have to do that and I still loved the movie. The story is a great piece of work without or without my emotional connect. My emotional connect to the movie does not come from the hardships that the boy faced, or despising the cruel attitude of Fletcher. It comes from the extraordinary movie that Whiplash is. Watch it, you'll know what I am talking about.

The movie's editing makes it a decently paced movie which makes it an easy watch. However, I wouldn't place my bets on Whiplash taking the award in this arena.

Sound Effects:

I really like how the music pieces are independent in themselves and make for a such a good element in the movie. While it perfectly blends with the story, it doesn't necessarily change to tell the story itself. Unlike other movies, they don't work to heighten the sense of urgency or anything for that matter. Despite that, the sound goes with you and grows on you.

Is JK Simmons the Best Supporting Actor?

He just may be. The cold and absolutely ruthless character that he portrays may not so much embody the word supporting which makes me laugh a little (the irony in the literal sense of words is extremely funny) but he is a strong omnipresent and ever-present character in the movie. He is meant to never leave you even when he is not on screen and Simmons does that. He is like a haunting presence since the very first time you see him and then he disappears. What I find remarkable about him is how he managed to portray a character that completely bothered and unsettled me, but somehow I never hated him. For me, he was a fascinating puzzle that I couldn't solve and I just had to watch the movie to get a clue.

In the end, I would say that while I would absolutely recommend the movie, I would also admit that it may not be everyone's cup of tea. It has been made with a certain taste of vision, which makes the movie different from your regular watch to the extent of a different set lighting and presentation. If you can appreciate a bit of difference and variation, you would love the movie!

Oscar Run #1 : The Theory of Everything

It's the season for Oscars again! And since we have time, I shall review all the movies nominated for the best film award in terms of the awards they have been chosen for.

The Theory of Everything was on my watch-list even before it released. So I'm elated that it made to the nomination.

I was earlier a little confused about why but now I know why it made the final nomination. The movie is a phenomenal viewing experience. It moves you, the acting is brilliant, the story is outstanding and the direction is quite good, too. It's a fine balance between ambition and modesty.

The movie finds the ambition in plot and the modesty in execution which makes it a wholesome package.

Nomination for Best Film:

Apart from what I have already stated, the film captures how anti-climactic life is. With life-halting news coming to Hawking about his disease, you'd expect the movie to pause to build a sympathetic narrative around him and give him a moment, but when does life do that? The doctor informs him and walks away, he has to get back, Jane has to be dealt with (or not), decisions have to be made, college has to continue. Simple. It's as if you have received the news, the carpet has been taken away from under your feet (it's not your news so it couldn't have been the floor) and you are told to move on. But you do, because Hawking does. This makes for a beautiful movie also because it captures the essence of Hawking's life. It isn't suspended in a moment of time. It isn't a particular episode from his life. It's life; and despite the fact that it is predisposed to an uncertainty more grave than ours, it goes on. It goes on as long as it isn't over. The movie is just that. It goes on. It doesn't dwell too much on anything.

Nomination for Best Score:

I know I should talk about the actor and actress first but the score complements what I say about the anti-climactic nature of life and similarly, the movie. There are no major crests and troughs in the music from the base line. It gives one the spontaneity to enjoy the lives of the characters and yet, helps them absorb the reality which won't stop life. It is one continued of subtle and beautiful sound. There is also growth in the music. It starts with gentle footsteps, then grows up to match the problems that are revealed to be beginning and then grows to somehow try and contain the magnitude of how the problem hits life. The music is apt. That is best thing that music can be for a film, and for life.

Nomination for Best Actor:

There's a lot said about Eddie Redmayne already. Indeed, he has done a remarkable job in illustrating the common knowledge that Hawking has had a tough life. The acting is not reductive, which this common knowledge often becomes. He portrays the role of the stubborn authoritarian very well, and the gratitude for Jane comes shining through. It is never said, it is never narrated but the theory that Jane was who made Stephen pull through, would not be too far off the mark. Redmayne allows this to come through in not so many words, and not so many expressions but just the chemistry. That counts for a lot.

Nomination for Best Actress:

So how does a timid girl find courage to go on? How does she become the rock, the pillar of support and go on to live through abandoned individual dreams, lack of sympathy, help and falling in love again, pushing it away and getting back to live a life where she is continually sidelined? Ask Felicity Jones. With every deep breath she takes to pull herself back up, with every absence of sign  of strength in her eyes compensated by her relentless will, love and support, Felicity Jones stunned me. The way things dawn on her and her anger well concealed, how could the Hawkings forget Stephen's condition and take a house that needs a steep staircase climbed? How intricately has she played the part! She deserves this!

Nomination for Best Screenplay:

The screenplay is not ambitious at all, and therein lies its beauty. It dabbles with flashbacks of shaky tapes of Stephen and Jane's wedding, the improved technology that lets the camera show Stephen with his kids around, and goes on to set the tone of Stephen's mind's dwellings in the lab where Rutherford and others worked and found legendary success. It's not the weather that shows tranquillity when Stephens is at work, it's the silent company of the apparatus kept in the lab. The screenplay allows freedom to the actors to breathe life into the characters that are looking for narrative, and it allows the director to pin the actors to his vision that brings the narrative alive. The screenplay is an independently complete part that cohesively settles into this beautiful movie.

The Theory of Everything is a must watch. Once or twice may be enough for a memory but you want to get back. It may be a story of real people, but the film gives you enough to hold on to.

McLeod Ganj

Mcleod Ganj is best known for the Dalai Lama's residence. It is a little suburb to the city, Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, India. It is about 8-10 km away from Dharamshala and can be best reached by a car or a bus. A large part of its population is that of Tibetans and it also has a lot of Buddhist monasteries.

One way of starting this post is by asking, 'Why travel to McLeod Ganj?'

Every time I tried to continue after this question, I hit a dead end. So, that means I couldn't ever write a second line. On about the fifth attempt, I realized I blanked out because I was asking myself the wrong question. I think I'd be better off when I write about "WHAT AWAITS YOU AT MCLEOD GANJ?"

Before I answer that, a few things you should know about how I travelled. It was a trip with a few friends. I travelled in September, so the weather was cool and pleasant. I also like walking around to explore a place. It gives me time to really absorb things and go at my own pace, literally and figuratively, speaking. McLeod Ganj was a perfect fit because it can be best explored on foot. I stayed at a little hotel called 'Bhagsu Heights'. Finally, I love food and I would love a place that helps my dining experience elevate from a customer-food-service level to complement my travelling experience where I'm allowed a relationship with food and to let me think of it as a character to the place. McLeod Ganj let me do that. Every single time I ate.

So what awaits you at McLeod Ganj?

Every time I looked out from the window, I saw mountains thickly-veiled by fog. When the day cleared up at times, I could see a waterfall and it was my first step into three days of serenity. Being a city girl, when I got to McLeod Ganj, the peace of that place struck me. It was comforting. I was not alone, but I had a space to be in touch with myself. I was also travelling in the middle of my ongoing semester in college, so it seemed like such a good break and much needed, too.

Walk to the Mall Road was about looking over cliffs and valleys. You could be an onlooker; experiencing life go on with its unique mundane character. You'd still be on a parallel, slower, calmer mental pace of life. Enter Mall Road and it's a different scene.

You find yourself immersed in a culture that's an amalgam of cafes (with free wi-fi *yes, yes, us 21st-century kids tch-tch*), jewellery or accessories with a Tibetan character to it and lots of shops to buy warm clothing. It is extremely good quality stuff and well priced as opposed to the polarized shopping culture in a lot of cities where either you get flimsy clothing for winters or you succumb to insane prices at the mall. Of course, you can try your hand at bargaining.

If you really like to shop, you'd like to know that when you really look for things that have a Tibetan touch to them, you'll find some interesting stuff. Like the wrap-around long skirts they use have colours that are uniquely yet, generously used in Tibetan culture, and broadly speaking mountainous areas. The prints and aesthetics of these things will also be different from everything else available in great stock with sellers, one after the other, on either sides of the road. They also have dream catchers of all sizes in abundance. The designs, sizes and creativity in these dream catchers is fascinating.

One important thing about the life here is that things start shutting down around 6 p.m. Some cafes will shut down and all the sellers will clear out the road, too. The restaurants will work for a longer time, though, the past nine p.m. culture is not thriving here, to say the least.

If you're not shopping, there's good news because there's so much more!

Food. Between breakfast, lunch and dinner that we had at our hotel, we also managed to have at least (remember: AT LEAST) two more meals or snacks every day. So after lunch on the first day, we had wantons and something to drink at Indique, then apricort tart, chocolate tart, coffee, tea, nana cake and carrot cake at Moonpeak Esspresso Coffee Shop. Gluttony should be struck off from the list of seven sins, I think. I shall list all the places we ate at, at the end of the post.

The vibe. Amongst some stoned people, some monks and some photographers, we also found travellers. They were soaking the place in as much as us and that was the last step for us to really let our hair down and enjoy. So at Jimmy's Italian Restaurant, when we gave a friend her little birthday surprise that was overdue, we sang the birthday song along with the staff and probably every other customer present there. A group of men from some other country sang it thrice. Our best guess is that it was probably drunk excitement.

We probably only struck two patent must-do things when in McLeod Ganj off the list.

First, we went to the Bhagsunag Waterfall. It is a little trek from the main chowk of McLeod Ganj and when you get there, a strong wind greets you there. It feels amazing to sit on the rock and just feel the waterfall's light shower on you as the wind blows past. Much on snacks with your friends there or jump into the water, if you wish. Make sure, you do the trek with sports shoes on because even though the trek isn't long, it is tricky and it will be a test for you if you smoke. My friends made it through the challenge. You can, too.

Then, we went to the Tibet Museum and the Kalachakra Temple. These two are built in the same complex. You're not allowed to take your phones or cameras inside. Did you know that because of Tibet's conflicted status of sovereignty, much of its culture has an increasing threat of extinction even as the culture seems to thrive in some small parts of India? Their 11th Panchen Lama, according to boards around the place, has been declared by the Chinese officials to be in their custody. The Museum tells the vivid tale of Tibet's history, people and culture to all those who would listen. It also depicts the Chinese invasion of Tibet. It can be quite moving to read, and there was more.

"Ohm Mani Padme Hum" may mean something to the Buddhists but to me, it is a way to reminisce and probably return to a bit of the tremendous peace I felt at that place. After touring the entire temple and rotating the wheels around the main shrine's complex, I sat in the large compound under the shades. I wouldn't say I was thinking any remotely philosophical- about life, past, future- but I was feeling something spiritual. It was strange to not really be thinking or introspecting but just feeling like the building blocks for growing up and for moving on were at play. You felt more than you could put to words and the puzzlement that accompanies this failure to explain is not uneasy at all. Instead, I just smile.

The beauty of this place is such that you don't have to wait for aphorisms to dawn upon your conscience. You'd be walking down a street or munching on some pie and sipping some coffee and they will come and go and it will be as simple as that.

Find that subtlety in life. Go to McLeod Ganj!

As promised, here's a list of places I ate at:

1. Indique (Rooftop Restaurant/Cafe):

2. Moonpeak Espresso Coffee Shop and Gallery

3. Four Seasons

4. McLeodganj Waterfall (A stopover for Maggie, anyone?)

5. Tibet Kitchen (You HAVE to have Chicken Momos and all Peach Beer, Lemon Beer and Fruit Beer. And no, it's not beer.)

6. Jimmy's Italian Restaurant

7. Clay Oven (You can miss this)

8. Coffee Talk

9. We also got take-away stuff from places that I can't remember now. Sorry.

Just try as much as you can! Apparently, Gakyi's is really good! It's right next to Jimmy's. Don't repress the gluttony! Let it gooooo!

Tell me more about your trips! Dying to go again. So then, I'd use your suggestions!

September 2014

 

Ciao 2014!

Can you believe 2014 is over this fast?

I still remember writing away 2013 to welcome 2014 on this date last year. I was apprehensive about what 2014 shall bring for me because 2013 hadn't been particularly generous and I had nothing to look forward to in 2014, but oh my! Wasn't I so wrong!

2014 took my concept and pace of time and threw it out of the window. I have not felt like I have lived two lifetimes in one year ever before, and yet felt like the year flew by. So much happened and I had so much to do! I was also more productive because who can manage two summer courses, two internships, a tornado of assignments and exams the way they come to you at LSR and still come out of all of it like a boss? I do feel like I came out of it stronger and wiser.

It was a generous year. I fell in love twice over with all my senses taking the leap. Who thought I was going to spend a summer in London and then soon after visit McLeod Ganj? Indeed, I have fallen in love. I met so many people from different countries, I graduated from hating selfies to just disliking them, I am a tad bit happier in life, and I am on whatsapp now, which I still like to elude sometimes. (I also watched all of Sherlock for the first time in London, tee-hee!)

Though, all was not happy. A friends passed away. No, we were not in touch the way friends usually are. We only spotted each other on the metro, sometimes. Why I feel like it's my loss too, is because Natasha was really, my happiest memory from school. If I ever get down to writing about how school life was for me, she would be the long-standing and nicest person through all of that. Yes, we drifted apart but we never fought and it was only time. I think we were there for each other for particularly hard times in our lives. As I often say, 'Always, NRI. Always!'

2014 was when I steered my driving wheel my way. I did not wait for things to happen to me, I happened to things and look, I'm happy. I wasn't going to take any more of my maturity shit because it wasn't getting me anywhere. I let go, embraced myself a little more and changed my perceptions a little bit.

So now, I look forward to 2015. Let's see how lessons of 2014 help when changes are coming up in 2015. I'm about to graduate in the next few months, I have to find another place for myself, make decisions and hopefully, keep my peace amidst all of that. Can I do this, can I? Can I?

I shall answer that with what I've learnt at an internship.

"Let's do this!"

Here's two pictures from the happiest times of 2014.

(Don't compare the pictures. I was using a friend's DSLR in London and my poor little phone for McLeod Ganj!)