Me Movies More

Reading multiple books at a time, researching like crazy, to acquire knowledge, finding issues with certain social setups that others around find "normal"- I should have known it from the beginning that I should be a writer. Now I feel sometimes that I have wasted 40 years of my life trying to prove my worth, doing things that hardly mattered to me or anyone else. I could have dedicated that very time to writing. However, I am an overthinker (every writer is), and reanalysing my own thoughts again and again (just like falling in love with myself) has led me to a very eye-opening conclusion. That is, nothing in life is wasted. So finally I can say I hold no regrets, I hold absolutely no grudges. All my emotions I pour into my writing, through words, through the characters- good, bad, ugly.  My health is at its highest   low  as of now. Oh, I am very much aware of the atrocious grammatical mistake committed in my last sentence. That was deliberate. Life is full of mistakes....

I have discussed many old Bengali classic movies on this blog, which have dealt with offbeat topics. These films delve into ordinary people's lives and tell their extraordinary stories through their everyday struggles and successes, or failures in overcoming them. 1. Uttar Phalguni: Suchitra Sen was the most sought-after and respected actress of Bengali films, and one of the rare few who could even say no to Satyajit Ray's movie offer, just because the role did not align with her choice. Uttar Phalguni is one of her best performances, that of an ill-fated woman who is sold by her husband to a life as a courtesan, yet keeps her daughter away from her dingy, dirty world to make her grow up to be an accomplished woman. Suchita Sen played both the mother and the daughter. Her range of acting can be easily distinguished by the portrayal of the double role with very different characteristics- one of a tormented courtesan, accused of killing her abusive husband, and another that of...

A mother is someone who nurtures and cares when you need it; a mother is someone who scolds and is strict when you are weak; a mother is someone who stands tall and rigid when everyone else leaves.  If we get someone like this in our lives, she is our mother, guardian, and guide. Today, on Mother's Day, I am exploring a few powerful female characters from Bengali literature who have become iconic as role models of motherhood and womanhood. Not every character on my list is a mother, but their care and strength have been considered those of a strong woman with power and care. 1. Devi Choudhurani/Prafulla from Devi Choudhurani: This is one of the most powerful characters in Bengali literature. A young girl, abandoned by her husband and in-laws, is kidnapped by robbers and rescued by another group of bandits, led by Bhavani Thakur. She joins the bandits and later rises to become their able leader in fighting the British cruelty.  A simple village girl, who is considered a carrie...

Tomorrow is 9th May, the 165th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. Today, I wanted to explore a few classic films based on his literature.  1. Charulata: Based on Tagore's Nashtanirh, this film is about a young and intelligent woman, Charulata, who is inquisitive and wants to explore the world beyond her abode and much older husband, Bhupati. As Amal, Bhupati's cousin, arrives at their house, Charulata forms a unique bond with him. Charulata, as a film, centres on one of the most iconic female characters in Indian literature. Hailed as one of Satyajit Ray's most remarkable films, the film conveys Charulata's powerful mindset, her love for independence and meaningful conversations, and her unexpressed affection for Amal.  Madhabi Mukherji and Soumitra Chatterji's impeccable chemistry shine through the film, while each frame serves as a pathbreaking portrayal of human emotions. 2. Teen Kanya: Another of Ray's masterpieces, this is an anthology of 3 of Tagor...

Alakendu Alakendu was sitting on the cane chair, reading his favourite Geetanjali. The more he read the book, the more he rediscovered himself and the world with a new perspective each time. But one thing, he knew, would never change, and that was the self-pride he carried along as a Bengali. And that led to his detachment from his son, Anirban. He was the one who broke the house's tradition. First of all, he did not join their generational publishing business, which Alakendu had been managing to maintain the legacy, even in this era of online books and tutorials. But Anirban had other plans, and with some friends, he had set up a Start-up. And then the most striking blow- he married Vijaya, a non-Bengali, knowing nothing about the Bengali culture.  Now that he had been sitting here for almost an hour, waiting for his evening tea, there was no sign of Vijaya. If Madhuri had been there today, she would have surely got a cup of flavourful Darjeeling tea and some Phuluri (gram flour f...

"Failure to Make Round Rotis" - a cover that naturally draws attention, and so I picked up the book to read. Generally, I don't read many poetry books, but the experience of this one was completely different. It had a uniform and universal message- a message of rebellion, a message of womanhood and resilience. Mehak Goyal, the author, has conveyed this message very skilfully with a few simple yet meaningful lines. About the Book Failure to Make Round Rotis is a perfectly curated poetry book of rebellion and resilience from a woman's perspective.  About the Author Mehak Goyal is a former computer science engineer who has committed herself to writing. Failure to Make Round Rotis is her first book. Review of Failure to Make Round Rotis A compilation of poetry that encompasses strong feminism, rebellion, equality, and resilience- Failure to Make Round Rotis is everything. It is a carefully curated book  with 8 interesting subdivisions titled  Medal of Participation, Adult...