Me Movies More

A week ago, I mentioned Rituparno Ghosh as the pioneer of Bengali New Age Cinema in my theme reveal post. For the first film in my 26-day journey, I have chosen one of his works, Abohomaan . Synopsis Abohomaan is a semi-biographical film that presents the biographical aspect through the shooting of a biopic about Noti Binodini , a famous theatre actress from 19th-century Bengali theatre. The movie begins with the death of a renowned director, Aniket Majumdar . A visit from popular actress Srimati Sarkar creates unrest among those present. Today’s Srimati was once Shikha Sarkar , an aspiring actress whose desire to work with Aniket led her to the same house where his lifeless body now lies. Her raw persona and straightforward approach, combined with her unwavering dedication to her work, remind Aniket of his wife, Dipti , in their younger days. While working on his long-planned project about Noti Binodini—one that he had intended to pursue with his wife, Dipti, but had to shelve—Anik...

I have been planning this trip for many months but have not been able to go until now. My daughter was equally excited about the visit. With the new academic year starting next week, this weekend seemed the perfect time to enjoy a day at the Paradox Museum in Mumbai. So, off we went today! We had to book our tickets online, which cost Rs. 500 per person, including taxes. I selected the 12 PM time slot, and we received green badges for entry upon arrival.    Once inside, we were greeted by a checkered room and various fascinating installations, including a kaleidoscope. The museum features a height illusion room, a mirror room, and numerous other illusional activities and puzzles. Plenty of assistance was available, and the staff was helpful, kind, and ready to assist us. I was particularly pleased to see their patience with the children, who made up most of the visitors. The other attractions included the Shadow Freeze Room, the Mirror Illusion Room, the Infinity Tunnel, and s...

Every year, World Theatre Day is celebrated on March 27th. Last year, I created a post highlighting a few movies and web series based on Shakespeare's plays. This year, in honour of #WorldTheatreDay, I am adding some more titles to that list. 1. Arshinagar (2015): The first Bengali musical film, Arshinagar, is an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet set in an urban context. Filmmaker Aparna Sen's innovative take on the story features memorable performances, especially by Jishu Sengupta as Tayyab (Tybalt). Dev plays Ranajay (Romeo), and Rittika portrays Julekha (Juliet), two lovers from rival families. However, one significant drawback of the movie is its mediocre music. A musical film requires soul-stirring music, especially for such a passionate love story, which makes the film's runtime feel prolonged. While it is an honest effort, it falls short of expectations, given the ensemble cast and the director's reputation. 2. Mayaa (2023): Directed by Raajhorshee De, this film ...

A few days ago, I had a humorous and interactive session with my fellow bloggers to discuss what we would name our AI selves. I, Reubenna, decided to call mine R"AI"benna.  Interestingly, I didn't have to think twice about the name; it clicked instantly. By simply replacing the two vowels in "Reubenna" from "EU" to "AI," I found the perfect name for my AI counterpart. I feel quite proud of this clever twist. However, being the overthinker that I am, I later considered the implications of the name.  1. AI is taking over many of the jobs we do: AI is increasingly handling tasks traditionally done by writers. Feed it ideas, and it generates a story. Provide it with data, and it produces an article. Give it facts, and it can create the news. So, what work is left for us? The idea, the observation, the feeling—can AI really replicate that? Can R"AI"benna feel what Reubenna feels, thinks, and observes? 2. RAI is also the name of Radha: Ra...

I am feeling both excited and apprehensive; I have mixed emotions right now. This is because I am participating in the Blogchatter A to Z challenge for the first time. It's puzzling because I have been blogging for the past 12 years, yet I never found the courage to join this incredible challenge until now.  It took me several days to decide on a theme as I debated whether to pick a specific topic or just write about whatever came to my mind. I explored the various themes chosen by talented bloggers and realized that I needed to do a lot of research before settling on any topic. The two subjects I am passionate about and have been studying and writing about are skincare—I am a certified skincare coach—and Bengali films.  Ultimately, I decided to focus on one of these subjects, and I am excited to announce my final choice for the #BlogchatterA2Z theme:  A2Z of Bengali New-Age Cinema Although I have always been interested in movies, I never had a strong affinity for Bengali...

This short story was jointly written by my students in a recent "Story Writing Workshop" that I organized.

March 22 is celebrated as #WorldWaterDay. Rivers are fundamental water sources in our lives, but do we show the respect they deserve? This thought challenges us as we observe World Water Day. Today, I considered listing five Bengali films with plots around rivers. 1. Ganga (1959): Directed by Rajen Tarafdar, this film is adapted from Samaresh Basu's novel of the same name. The movie opens with an exciting scene of a boat race among fishermen on the Ganga River, where Bilas, a hot-headed young man, emerges victorious. He is daring and helpful, aspiring to lead the fishing community like his uncle. Bilas is charming and popular among women, yet his heart belongs to Himi, who hesitates to marry him. Although Bilas wants to venture into the Bay to go fishing, his uncle forbids him due to fears of harsh weather and man-eating tigers. The story unfolds as we learn whether Bilas pursues his dreams or gives in to the objections from those around him. This beautiful film highlights Bilas ...

There was a time when the word "I" felt like a secondary character in her life. She believed she was incapable of achieving anything significant and saw herself as neither attractive nor intelligent. These limited beliefs led her to view herself as a girl without goals. This mindset also affected her physical health. As her limiting beliefs took control, her confidence plummeted, and she began seeking validation from others. She followed their advice, dressed according to their suggestions, and went out of her way to do things for people that no one else would do. She thought that was what love meant; self-love was completely foreign to her. Perhaps she didn’t even know what real love was. Throughout her life, she struggled to remain focused on a goal. She aspired to be everything and be a part of everything, without any specific aim. Her purpose in life was unclear and unsettled. She started doing what everyone else was doing—following trends, seeking perfection, and being e...

"Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink" This immortal line by Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a constant reminder to be kind and empathetic to others. Here, the reference to drinking water is given as the most sought-after thing when the mariner is stranded amidst seawater but cannot drink any. It is his retribution for his cruel act. The importance of water in our lives is unparalleled. Like Coleridge, many other poets and authors have taken up the subject of water to highlight the nature of human beings, placing them relevantly as an allegory, both in tragedy and comedy.  In Bengali literature, another work where the reference to water has been used as a satirical representation of miscommunication is Sukumar Ray' s play Abak Jalpan (A Strange Drink of Water) . This was the first play most kids of our time had read in Bengali. It has been a perfect example of a sarcastic piece of literature hidden under an innocent play for children.  About ...

Astha was staring at the computer screen. She was left with so much data, and her filing deadline was by evening. She raised her head from her cubicle. Everyone was glued to their screens. But she just could not. She needed her share of chips, coffee, cola, munchies and breaks. Off she went, willingly passing by Aron's cubicle to take a look at him. If, by any chance, he saw her. But he did not. Why would he? He had a beautiful girlfriend and seemed quite happy and set in his life. Why would he take any interest in someone like Astha- overweight, surviving on junk food, lazy with no ambition. What if she was as beautiful and smart as Aron's girlfriend? It was already 7, and Astha was still left with a night full of filing. Most of her colleagues had left, and the rest were preparing to leave. Ahh...that's fine. She just needed a movie break. She opened the link where they shared all the latest films and web series. The problem with such websites was numerous other sites sta...

Lullabies or Lodis are very gentle songs that are soothing and calming. They are generally sung for kids to make them sleep. They are also called cradle songs. The origin of lullabies dates back 4000 years from now, as an inscribed clay tablet with one has been excavated in Babylon. Today, on World Sleep Day, I listed some of my favourite English, Bengali, and Hindi lullabies/Lodis. 1. Ahista Ahista by Udit Narayan, Sadhana Sargam: This song from the film Swades, composed by A. R. Rahman, has a soulful tune with heartfelt lyrics by Javed Akhtar.  2. Ghum Jaye by Hemanta Mukhopadhyay: This song from the film Mayar Sansar was composed by Rabin Chattopadhyay and penned by Pranab Ray. 3. Lullaby by Dan Seals: One of my favourites is a very crisp yet melodious song composed over guitar and violin by Dan Seals and Rafe Van Roy. The raw flavour of country music with a calming and soulful touch and simple lyrics makes it memorable. 4. Ghum Aye Ghum Aye by Sabita Chowdhury: Perhaps...

I entered the white and blue building with a pounding heart. The wall of the building had a white and blue bird curved on it, under which was written the line, "Courage to Know." It was the first day of my 6th standard- new building, new class, new teachers, how would it be! I was anxious.  I entered the classroom and was relieved to find my old friends, Pari and Devi, from 5th standard. We were all waiting eagerly for our big reveal. Who would be our class teacher? My curiosity turned into excitement when we learned that our class teacher would be teaching English and History—what a relief! Those were two of my favourite subjects.  One day, while we were hanging out on the school grounds during lunch break, a few senior students approached us. They were the much-feared school prefects, mostly from 11th grade. One of them pointed at me and asked, "Hey you, which class are you in?" I fumbled, "5, no, 6."  "Where is your tie?" he demanded seriously...

Aparna Sen is a respected name in Indian cinema. She started acting at 15 with Satyajit Ray's "Teen Kanya". In 1981, she directed her first feature film and thus began the journey of filmmaker Aparna Sen. Most of her movies have highlighted women and their lives from different perspectives. Her films have a powerful storyline, and her characters are real people, mostly placed in some unique situations. Today, I have listed a few films from the veteran Filmmaker that can be watched this Women's Day: 1. 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981): This film tells the story of a senior Anglo-Indian school teacher living in an apartment alone, only with her cat for company. One day, by chance, she meets her ex-student and her boyfriend. The movie's story gradually progresses after that. The beautiful film highlights how loneliness can make someone attached to others, overlooking the red flags. And when she needs them the most, they would be nowhere. A simple story just brought up the...

Finally, Brenda had completed her project after spending almost 5 months in Mumbai. Now, it was time to return home. But wasn't she missing something? She had taken all the reports she had been collecting throughout her stay. She had shopped cute gifts for her family and friends back home. Then what was it that she was missing out? It was "Ba and Bakul", how could she forget them. They were the most interesting and warm people she had ever met. She had to meet them; yes, she had to.                                      She sent Bakul a Whatssapp message. She would be staying for 4 more days in India. If Ba and Bakul could meet her, it would be the best possible Grand Finale for her trip. Bakul was so excited to hear that Brenda would visit them at Baroda that he immediately made a video call.  "Hey, let me mail you the tickets, Brenda. We will be so happy to have you here." His bright smi...

Flora was sitting at the corner of the bar, trying to figure out the picture of the man on her phone. She remembered Fa's words, "Flo, this time full Bollywood hero- strong & fun like Bhaijan."Flora knew that was her father's failed attempt, so she took at least some interest in his prospective son-in-law. Flora knew very well that profile pictures can be deceptive, but neither did she care. But her investigative mind tried to understand the real person inside through the picture. A sudden tap on her shoulders distracted her. She found a well-built man with a particularly loud moustache smiling at her. She could have easily mistaken her as one of the bouncers standing at the club's door if he was not at the bar. She wondered what Fa's reaction would have been if he had tried to find "Bhaijan" in him. Fa has this habit of exaggerating things.  The man sat across from Flora, "I am Frederick; you can call me Freddie." He tried to ease hims...

Every week in March, MeMoviesMore will celebrate a Cause/Day. Today, we are celebrating World Compliment Day (March 1) A new month has started, and it is already March, Spring at its fullest bloom with the onset of a very hot summer peeping through. March also brings a significant aspect to our lives, our kids' exam time. That reminds me of how much motivation they need to give their best shot this time of the year. Today, March 1, is celebrated as World Compliment Day. It is a day to mark the importance of compliments to the people around us, spreading positivity and appreciation for our work and the value we bring in life. Children are tomorrow's future, and we must motivate them as elders. Giving compliments for their work and simply being there with/for us is also important. Here are some compliments that can encourage kids to focus on their goals this exam season. Top 10 Compliments for Kids 1. I am proud of you: Nothing in the world can bring more joy than this line from ...