A Refreshingly Promising Debut

Book Review: 
Visions of a Summer Past

Author: Avishek Gupta

Rating: 4.5/5

Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/359WoRM





When I picked up Avishek Gupta’s debut novel ‘Visions of a Summer Past’, I was intrigued by the title of the book. Half way down this absorbing novel, I had no doubt that Gupta had chosen a befitting title. It is not easy to write a non-linear story with long time leaps, to periodically switch between the past and the present, and to keep the reader engrossed all along the journey. However, full marks to the author for beautifully portraying glimpses of pre-independent India as well as 21^st century United States with equal élan. 

The fabulous mix of fact and fantasy add an old-world charm to this novel. This is a unique story of magic realism and I don’t want to divulge details, lest you lose the charm. But hat’s off to the author for skilfully switching between timelines like a pro. His attention to detail while elucidating the life in Dhaka is brilliant. Each time the backdrop changes, the author meticulously recreates the setting and the transition appears seamless to the reader. 

A fresh plot, neatly drafted characters, and a story that wraps mystical elements intelligently make this an engaging read. You cannot read this book in a hurry. You need to take time to understand and empathise with Prafulla, Asmani, Rohit, and Celeste as they experience a series of life-changing events. The sea of emotions that each character feels is portrayed subtly. 

The author’s writing style is poetic and graceful. Understanding the mindset of characters who lived in the 1940s and then interpreting the circumstances in a way that the reader can relate to them is no mean feat! But the author achieves that effortlessly with his vivid imagination and thorough research. Portraying so many different emotions across multiple time leaps through so many characters is incredible. 

Though the book does well in its 200 pages, I wish it was a bit longer. I would definitely like to read a sequel to this book. 

To sum up, ‘Visions of a Summer Past’ is a heartening tale of love, spiritual bonding, and deep faith. I would recommend this book to all bibliophiles.

 

A fascinating love story with a tinge of mystery

Book Review: Safe Haven

Author: Nicholas Sparks

Rating: 5/5

I recently completed reading Safe Haven. Just like all books written by Nicholas Sparks, this one too enchants the reader with its simplicity and emphasis on our purpose in life.

If Notebook redefined passion and friendship and A Walk to Remember strengthened your belief in true love, Safe Haven will show you how despite innumerable obstacles, divine intervention helps unite lovers. 

Katie is the unassuming beautiful protagonist who leaves the city where she has lived all her life, in search of peace. To add a new dimension to her life and ward off her abusive past, Katie comes to a faraway city and takes up a humble job to distract herself and keep the cash flowing. 

Having given up on happiness and love, Katie doesn’t talk much to anyone. However, she is quite amused to have a female neighbour who is inquisitive about all the happenings in her life.

Soon, Katie finds love in Alex, a widower. Their fairy-tale romance is interrupted when Katie’s abusive ex-husband reaches the new city, looking for her. What follows is a heart-warming story of love, betrayal, and hope - with several goosebumps’ moments.  

Love as a topic for a novel has been tossed over and been used by almost every second author who ventured into fiction writing. Whether it is mystery, comedy, humour, or something else, the stories usually have hues of love embedded in them. So, why is it that some love stories touch your heart and others don't? May be because of the way the author’s style captivates your mind or the characterization. I have often seen it is the simplicity and honesty with which a character is depicted that makes a story memorable. 

Probably that is the reason Sparks’ Safe Haven strikes a chord. We spend a lot of time on social networking sites these days and often meet ‘the special one’ meant for us online. However, at the risk of sounding ancient, I must admit that I still believe that a face-to-face interaction and ‘hand-written’ communication is way more romantic than any virtual interaction can ever be.  

Safe Haven is not a sloppy, mushy love story. It talks about the value of life, the price we pay for being emotional, and establishes the fact that Pain is inevitable but suffering is optional. Full of interesting plot twists and surprises, this book is a page-turner. Highly recommended.

The Feeling of Guilt

How often does the feeling of guilt bug you? Do you lament over the thought that you are not being able to live up to your family's expectations? Guilt enters our lives in more ways than we can imagine.

You can feel guilty if you had that extra piece of chocolate which you forbade your kid to have. You can feel guilty giving a flimsy excuse to your family and sneaking out to enjoy your 'me time'. You can feel guilty for not earning enough. You can feel guilty lying to someone just because you want to avoid them. The list is endless.

More than anything, we feel guilty when we want to do something solely for ourselves. We think a hundred times before planning a quiet weekend, sceptical that it might offend the family. I know several people who have sacrificed their dreams only because they felt guilty about putting their own interest above the others. They have let years pass by. Now in their twilight years, they regret not having done what they always wanted to do.

That is exactly what guilt does to us. It eats into our present and disturbs our future. It makes us unhappy and forces us to unwillingly make sacrifices to please others. What we don't realize is that sometimes those repeated selfless acts turn into expectations.

For example, if you are spoon-feeding someone every day, you will be loved and appreciated initially. Soon, it becomes a routine. The day you stop, you will not just annoy the other person, they will blame you for being selfish. Because, it has become a habit for them to expect the spoon-feeding from you. Similarly, if you are offering money to an able family member in need continuously, the person is slowly turning into a parasite. S/he will always be in need of money and will have a tendency to take advantage of your goodness. Just refuse them the money once and you will see their true colours. Of course, only if you are able to get rid of your feeling of guilt first.

Photo by Mike Greer from Pexels

Perhaps there is no perfect way or approach to kill that guilt-feeling.

But you can always make a beginning by setting daily goals. For example, "I will complete these 3 things today, regardless of everything and NOT feel guilty." How often do we feel guilty for depriving ourselves of the little flickers of happiness we deserve to enjoy? Rarely. Those unfulfilled desires translate into regrets later in life.

Even on this day, there are thousands of school-girls especially in villages who feel guilty for going to school and not being able to help their mother with household chores. There are 21st century superwomen who feel guilty for going to office and leaving their child with a family member or a babysitter. There are people, both men and women who stay unmarried lifelong to provide for their families. They feel guilty that marriage might change them, because they are the sole breadwinners.

It is great to help others and always be there for them. But not at the cost of denying yourself what is rightfully yours. Go dance in the rain, enjoy that cool breeze, go on that solo trip, set your eyes on the unthinkable dream and achieve it. Because no one but you and you alone can stand up for yourself and live your dream. Shed your inhibitions, kick the guilt, and enjoy life till you have it.

Photo from Pexels

Europe Calling!

2014 has been tough. Dealing with the departure of loved ones never happens. Perhaps it takes a lifetime. There were some sparkles of joy amid the tough times. The European vacation was one such breath of fresh air. I am writing this post to keep an account of the fact that we made our first trip to Europe in 2014.

Trinity College, University of Oxford

We travelled to three destinations – London, Paris, and Switzerland over 13 days. Thanks to Kesari Travels for organizing such a wonderful tour and sending such an amazing tour manager like Mr. Kedar Billay with us. My mom always wanted to visit Switzerland and she was thrilled when we reached her dream destination. My husband on the other hand wanted to spend time loitering around the streets of Paris. He did it too. And I had my heart set on London - especially as I wanted to visit the University of Oxford.  Done :)

 

Inside Louvre Museum, Paris

Though it is difficult to choose between any of the three destinations, I would say I loved Switzerland the most. It may be because we spent the maximum number of days there.

While the Trafalgar Square in London is amazing and nothing beats the Paris Eiffel tower, Switzerland is like a dream. Heaven. I haven’t been to Kashmir but now I know what they call it the Kashmir of Europe. 

While we were on a cruise on Lake Geneva, the tour guide told us an interesting story that left me in awe. Am sure aspiring authors would be inspired by this story.

Lake Geneva, Switzerland

Story synopsis: Sometime in the 19th century, the famous P.B Shelley and his wife Mary were on a holiday with Lord Byron and his wife in Villa Diodati, near Lake Geneva, Switzerland. The weather was too stormy and none of them could go for any outdoor activity. Since they had no option but to stay inside the house, Lord Byron suggested that to keep boredom at bay, each of them write a horror story.  Nobody took Mary seriously as she was a novice amid the great literary stalwarts. Mary was just 19 and took up the challenge to pen her story on that rainy night.


Guess what story she came up with? She created Frankenstein. The rest is history.



Jungfraujoch, Switzerland

Surprisingly, all through this trip, I had my favourite author Paulo Coelho's new book 'Adultery' in mind. When will I get to read it, would it be better than his previous books... I had been wondering. The book had not yet been released in India at that time. I knew I would pick it up as soon as I was back in Mumbai. When I finally got hold of the book a couple of weeks back, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the story is set in Geneva! Coelho also mentions about Mary Shelley and Frankenstein in this book!! Besides, currently, Coelho is residing in Geneva! It was a wonderful connect though I was a little upset that I didn't know he was in Geneva when I visited. I feel good thinking I breathed the same air he did for a day at least. Simple joys of life :)

I have to go back to Europe again – to explore the English countryside and spend some more time in London and Paris. Besides, I have always wanted to visit Eastern Europe. I want to travel there, live there, and just enjoy the coffee there.

Till then, I wish all my friends a Happy Mahalaya and a wonderfully fulfilling Durga Puja. May all your dreams come true. Stay blessed.

My Friend Ganesha!

Ever since childhood, I have been fond of God even though I am not particularly religious.

As a child, my favorite Goddess was Saraswati. Fasting for the Saraswati Puja every year used to be very exciting. It hardly had a religious connotation. I would get to wear a sari, have yummy narkel kul and topa kul (perhaps called Jujube fruit in English), and use doat- kolom to write the Saraswati mantra on coconut leaf. The best thing about Saraswati puja was that by 8 am the puja would be completed and so the fasting ended too! We could have as much kul as we wanted along with sweets galore. And yes, we were not supposed to study on Saraswati Puja...one more reason why that day was extra-special :). Goddess Saraswati has a veena (multi-string instrument) in her hand. Since I love music, I was automatically her fan.

Next, I was mesmerized by Jesus Christ. This may be the impact of spending too many years in a missionary school and college. But there is a certain aura about Christ that appeals to me all the time. Besides, churches and chapels have a calming effect which I enjoy. In my teens, I would buy pictures of Christ, as I would buy of Sachin Tendulkar and Salman Khan. I loved wearing a cross round my neck too. Jesus is symbolic of true love, peace, and compassion.

Thirdly, of course Loknath Baba. I learned about him from my father when I was in Class IV, I think. In Class VII, during my P.T class, one day, my sports shoes were not washed. I had completely forgotten to clean them the night before. In the morning, all I could do was paint some chalk on the unruly pair. It was almost like applying face powder on a black shoe. Our teachers were extremely strict when it came to snow-white sports shoes. I was very scared. When my teacher came for inspection, we were all standing in a row in ‘attention’ position. The girl standing next to me had dirty shoes and was sent for detention. I had kept my eyes shut and was constantly praying to Loknath Baba to save me J. And yes, it was a miracle! The teacher did not notice my unwashed shoes! She moved on to the end of the line and caught two more girls. Ever since that day, Loknath Baba is a family member. He didn’t come to my rescue during my Maths exams though! He asked me to help myself :p.

I don’t know how and when Ganesha happened. It certainly has a Mumbai connection. In Kolkata, in our puja room, my mother has several Ganesha idols. My favorite is a pristine white Ganpati. Mom usually drapes a green or golden silk scarf around him. He looks simple, yet gorgeous. He used to be pampered the most during Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Year) celebrations at home.

After shifting to Mumbai, I witnessed a lot more celebrations around Ganeshji compared to Kolkata. Today being the final Ganpati visarjan day (Immersion ceremony), I thought of writing this post. My fondness for Ganesha has grown a lot after I moved to Mumbai. Ganesha has an endearing personality and is more like a friend than God. He always seems so content with himself, perhaps that is the trait I admire the most. In my ex-office, there is a very elegant and cute little Ganpati that brightens our workplace. For years, I loved offering flowers to that Ganpati every morning. Simple things bring such unprecedented joy! After I left IBM, I miss that. But I know my friend Ganesha will always be by my side.

Happy Ganpati to everyone!

 

A Sparkle of Hope

There is always a sparkle of hope that keeps us going. Life would be nothing if it was not for hope. 

I came across an interesting tidbit on Mughal Emperor Akbar and his sharp-witted court advisor, Birbal. Akbar once asked Birbal to write something on the wall that would make a happy person sad and a sad person happy. Birbal wrote, "This too shall pass". When I read it, for a moment I was still. A happy person would 'hope' that moment continues till eternity and a sad person would 'hope' that good times will follow. Hope has this amazing capability to help us move on with life, regardless of circumstances, incidents, emotions, and changes. 

Towards the end of 2013 and at the dawn of 2014, I received terrible news from multiple quarters. I lost two dear friends and an adored relative. They left for a better world, but this was definitely not the age to go there! 

Towards the end of the January, I was reminded of the day my father left us to raise a toast with God. It has been 7 years now but it still seems that I spoke to him just yesterday. I have never written about him before. But today I am surprised by my ability to pen this down. He is my guardian angel and there is solace in the knowledge that he is happy with God. I am sure he has got a hoard of followers there with his incompatible ability to make people laugh and feel happy. And my doggies are also there with him, eating all those icecreams and chocolates that were forbidden. Ah, what a party they must be having! I know I will meet my father, my friends, and my beautiful doggies up there one day. So yet again, it is 'hope' that helps us to take baby steps when life seems futile.

On the career front, some of my friends have either turned entrepreneurs or have had glorious moments to celebrate at work. I know how hard they have worked and how long they have waited to see this day! They truly deserve this moment of celebration and I wish them all success in the years to come. Cheers!

On the personal front, two friends got married to each other :)). We couldn't be happier. I wish them a life overflowing with happiness in abundance.   

As we get ready for the upcoming months of 2014, I hope and pray that this year brings good health to everyone I know. 

I hope we have the strength to help people in need, the courage to stay honest to ourselves, the empathy to love animals as one of us, and the passion to follow our dreams.

Stay healthy and stay happy! God bless.
 

  

Loving Your City

A city says a lot about its people.  To a great extent, the environment we inhabit shapes our personality.  A city can make a person a hero, a romantic, an artist, a martyr, a rebel etc.  Just like our upbringing defines us, the city we reside in contributes in multiple ways to nurture and nourish our individuality. When we move to a new city, we embrace the culture, the society and a new set of people. Settling in a new place has its own teething problems. But some places attract you instantly and before you realize you are in love with the place. It may be due to the people you meet, the weather, a new college, job or house, or simply the character of the city. The chemistry we share with a city we love can only be felt.

Of the few places I have been fortunate enough to explore and spend some time in, there are some places I can never get enough of.  Every visit seems incomplete and there is always a reason or an excuse to go back.

My top five in random order are as follows:

Kolkata (Calcutta), India

This is my city and I belong here. Though I prefer the name Calcutta to Kolkata, that doesn’t make the city any less lovable.  The city gave me more than I ever expected –A loving liberal family, friends for life, education to cherish, a beautiful childhood, adorable pets, a treasured adolescence, and more.  My love for books, music, and cricket started from Kolkata. Whether as a student of history, an animal lover, a foodie, or an employee – Kolkata has encouraged me to grow, learn, appreciate, and endure. Despite the bad traffic, poor roads, dismal government and other shortcomings, Calcutta will always be home.  There is much more to the city than I can ever attempt to summarize in a paragraph. Someday, I will write at length on Calcutta.

Mumbai (Bombay), India

The effervescence and energy of Mumbai attract me more than anything else. Bombay exudes this get-up-and-go spirit that makes you want to love life all over again no matter how tough your challenges are. The best part of this cosmopolitan city is the sea. The sea and I share a great rapport, which keeps both of us happy! I enjoy the vastness of the sea the most during the rains. On the flip side, Mumbai has bad traffic, bad traffic, and bad traffic. But I am lucky to have my workplace near home J. I have good friends here and I started actively contributing to my blog after moving to this city. Mumbai has given me a new taste of independence coupled with an increased sense of responsibility. This is the city that makes me believe in dreams and miracles.

Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India

I don’t know of anyone who has visited Manali and not fallen in love with the city! This picturesque hill station in Himachal Pradesh, India is among the most sought-after tourist destinations in India. I have been to Manali twice and each experience was novel. Perhaps that is the magic of the city – you find newness each time you meet the city. The breathtaking landscape – the pristine beauty of snow-capped mountains, lush-green dense forests and crystal clear water of the Beas River –Manali can make a writer or photographer out of any ordinary mortal. If you are artistically inclined, this is the place to be. Unfortunately, only residents of the hill states can buy property here. This hill station always welcomes me with open arms.

Sydney, Australia

I have been to Sydney, Australia just once – three years back, thanks to the organization I work with. The experience was fabulous. It is a city that gives you more than you can imagine. The weather is amazing and the dynamic nature of the city mesmerizes you. For me, it was as if the city was daring me to perform better, to pursue my dreams, to stay positive and to stay fit. The happiness among the people there is infectious. A clean, green city with the bountiful sea – Sydney gives an out-of-the-world feeling to any first timer. For a lover of cricket, Sydney had an added attraction – the Sydney Cricket Ground. I have to go back to the city and explore it in its totality again.

Pune, Maharashtra, India

Pune is second home.  The weather here is romantic and comforting. I have been staying in Pune for a few days now and I feel that in several ways, Pune is like Calcutta- the simplicity in people, their love for arts and culture, the zest for education et al. I can sense an inexplicable spiritual power in this city. I feel at home every time I visit Pune.  It is a busy city and almost everyone here owns a two-wheeler, just like Chandigarh. But Pune has a character of its own. Even amid the hustle-bustle of city life, you will manage to find your quaint corner here. I like spending time reading or writing in this beautiful city. The adjoining areas in the outskirts of the city add to the beauty of Pune (Lonavla, Khandala, Sinhgad, Khadakvasla, Lavassa and more).

Finally, I have to mention Goa for all its charm and spontaneity. Though it doesn’t qualify as a city, the Indian state of Goa is like a mega-city. This is one place where I feel totally at peace with the surroundings. You can relax, play, work, chat, write, click pictures – or do nothing and still enjoy Goa. I have been to Goa several times and I wish to keep it that way- at least once a year. Again, the sea in Goa is the main attraction. Sometimes the sea is ruthless and wild; in some beaches it comes forth as calm and peaceful. In few others, the sea is playful. It is very difficult to leave the seashore and go back to your home or hotel while staying in Goa. The scenic beauty captivates you and there is a sense of fulfillment. The spirit and character of Goa has not changed over the years. Perhaps that’s what makes the state so special.

Dump them when they are old?

'Worried about your retired parents? Contact XX Active Senior Living'. I was quite taken aback when I read this message on multiple hoardings on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. It took me some time to absorb the message and understand its intent.

I have heard about old-age homes. As a child, I visited a beautiful old age home in Kolkata way back in 1991. I remember it being part of an NGO initiative. We organized a cultural program for the residents there and they were delighted to have us over.

But this concept of marketing 'old age homes' as a parent-dumping ground was new to me. I made a note of the ad copy. The first line asked me if I was worried about my retired parents. All okay there - It is natural to worry about aging parents. We worry about how to guard them better against health ailments, plan their insurance and also discipline their food habits. But the idea of handing them over to an organization because they are 'physically old'? I didn't get that. Logic: Parents bring up their children. Children become adults and take care of their parents. It's that simple.

Let's walk down memory lane- quick flashback of life in early childhood. Even if we don't remember- there would be photos or videos that show how cutely terrible we were as toddlers. Each time, we looked up innocently at a helping hand for support. A loving mother or a doting father was always there - pampering us to no end. 

Think of the growing years next. Am sure you can visualize a gawky teenager who wanted the world at her/his feet. At that point in time, our friends meant the world to us and parents? They came from a different planet altogether. Every little demand was a fight and finally when parents gave in to that demand, it became an expectation. Rather - it became our right. Against all odds, the parent would go the extra mile to see a smile on the angry young teenager's face! They didn't send us to child correction juvenile homes or dump us so that specialist strangers would 'bring us up'. We always talk about how important upbringing is. I wonder if people who send their parents to old-age homes know what it means.

A couple once told me that their parents have willingly opted for these homes for a taste of  freedom! I found that quite insulting - do my parents have to go elsewhere because they feel jailed in their own home? Teenagers have innovative excuses to keep their mothers awake all night during exams as they get bored of studying alone! As an adult - is it so difficult to stop the parent from leaving home? Interestingly, a loving senior citizen at an old-age home states - 'I left home as I realized I was a burden to my son's family.' Of course, he did not tell that to his son. But it is appalling that the son didn't understand what was going on in his father's mind. 

However, I must admit that Senior Citizen homes are doing a great service to society. At least senior people now know that if their children are uncomfortable taking care of them - there are options outside home.

Today - are we so busy with our work, our priorities and our 'web-based social life' that we don't get five minutes to sit down with our parents and share a cup of tea or laugh over a simple joke? If you are worried about your parent, why do you think someone else can take better care of them? If a parent is the best thing that happened to a child- isn't it the child who can be the best caretaker for the parent?

Tensed?

I am happy today! The day has been good and there have been quite a few reasons to smile - no matter how simple :)

But can I make the above statement everyday? Not really. We have worries, tensions, problems, and a lot of emotional baggage that pull us down. On those days, the 'I am happy' bit doesn't make sense. But more often than not, the WORRY SYNDROME can be avoided.

I have seen people around me who are always worried. They are always tensed about something or the other. If there is no tension, they feel inadequate. Honestly, I am not joking! People even go to extremes. A colleague of mine had once said, 'I have had nothing to worry about in the whole of last week and that is really worrying me. Do you think there is a problem? '. I didnt know whether to laugh or sympathise! Finally, at the risk of sounding insensitive, I said 'Yes, please go visit a shrink'.

Why do people worry so much when they do? Is it worth it? Certainly not. If I am aware that I cannot help a situation at a given point of time, what do I gain through tension? I get hypertension, more tension, more doctor visits, more tablets etc etc. Whereas, it is simpler to lead a tension-free life.

One major tension area for most people is when it concerns a loved one's wellbeing. I know it is not easy not to worry. But there is no harm in trying at least! When we have a plan and work with a calm mind- even a herculean task becomes easy. On the contrary, when we unnecessarily get tensed and act in haste- we end up making a mountain out of a mole hill. That builds up more tension. Phewww!

We fear the worst first and then keep negotiating with our mind 'No, it can't be that bad! But then.. what if? Oh...no no, not possible!' Subconsciously, we keep bargaining with our minds and involuntarily add to the already dormant tension. In such cases, the more we try not to absorb the tension, we get enveloped in it. In such situations, it often helps if we make a decision and stick to it. For instance, I decide that I will NOT think about it because I know I cannot contribute to changing the situation. Instead, I will focus on something else. In other words - Get distracted.

Distraction is the best remedy for tension. If your hobby or even TV, music, books don't help- take recourse to writing. If you hate writing, call a friend - talk to someone. You don't necessarily have to talk about your tension! Discuss about anything else. Food is often is a big stress-buster. Talk food :). Spend some time with the nature or with your pet/neighbour's pet.

If NONE of these work, we still have another option. FACE IT. If you think you can improve the situation- please act on it instead of getting tensed! If there is really nothing you can do but worry, stand in front of the mirror and talk to yourself. Tell yourself that the best option at this moment is to wait as you have no control over the situation. It is 'out of scope' for you and just not your business! With time, if your intervention helps- you will be first one to run and solve it. 

Till then, give wings to this little worry of yours - let it fly out of the window. Set it free :)  

Create, procreate, recreate!

Film Review: Vicky Donor

Cast: Ayushman Khurrana, Yami Gautam, Annu Kapoor

Produced By: John Abraham and others

Directed By: Shoojit Sircar

Music: Abhishek-Akshay

My Rating : 4.5/5

Ayushman Khurrana has 'come' of age (No pun intended). If you are a cricket fan, you may remember this excessively handsome, intelligent, and witty young man from Indian Premier League (IPL) 2010. He hosted several matches and became very popular in that season. I was quite disappointed not to find him in the following years of IPL and wondered where this ‘dude’ disappeared! Not for long. The fellow did his homework right and got himself this unconventional launch as the protagonist in ‘Vicky Donor’.

How many debutants would dare to get introduced in a movie like this I wonder!! Most would prefer to get safely unveiled under a Yash Raj banner or a predictable yawn-worthy mushy drama or some multi-starrer where the Khans, Kapoors or Kumars play the lion’s share of the meaty role! That’s where Ayushman scores with a big thumbs up- for daring to debut in Vicky Donor. The debutant heroine Yami Gautam is impressive too and the two share a lively onscreen chemistry. As Ashima Roy, her acting skills are notable and some of my male friends already find Yami ‘yummy’! The lady reminds me of ‘Gayatri’—the beautiful female lead in 'Swades' who packed off from Bollywood as soon as she arrived even after a dream launch! Hopefully we will see more of the graceful Yami in Bollywood in the years to come.

The characterization in the movie is commendable. The roles are sketched to play meaningful characters and yet the treatment is light. When they gel in the story, we create a hilarious impact and yet convey a positive social message to the audience. John Abraham has surely chosen the right first film to produce! The script is novel and the approach is fresh, funny, and thought-provoking. Kudos to the director for portraying a taboo topic like ‘sperm donation’ with such élan and confidence!

Annu Kapoor is a doctor who runs a ‘fertility’ clinic where he helps childless couples conceive. In other words, he finds them a ‘sperm donor’. At the start of the movie, we see Dr. Chaddha (Kapoor) tensed as most of his clients complain about no pregnancy even after coming to his clinic. Some even threaten him with dire consequences. Annu tried his best to explain to the clients that even after sperm donation, 100% fertility cannot be assured. Simultaneously, he starts searching for a ‘productive’ sperm donor and chances upon Ayushman who looks to him as the perfect ‘procreation’ machine. The movie progresses with Chaddha trying to convince Vicky (Ayushman) to donate and how Vicky keeps dodging the doctor till he finally agrees to give it a shot. The scenes are knit together with great deft; and humor sprinkled here and there make the audience break into splits of laughter.

Ayushman and Yami stand out with their acting skills. Annu Kapoor is commendable. Also special mention for the ladies who play Vicky’s mother and grandmother. The scene where the two Punjabi women share a drink in the evening behaving like perfect ‘bewras’ is wonderful! The modern tech-savvy grandmom who dreams of a 42 inch flat TV and a Ritu Kumar dress is a darling. It is great to see elderly women being portrayed like ‘normal women’ with an inclination for alcohol and not getting bullied by the typical 'emotional baggage' that most Hindi movies depict all the time.

Also a special mention for the gentleman who play’s Yami’s father and the lady who plays her aunt. The Bengali duo have acted splendidly. The show-down shown between North Indians and East Indians (read Punju Vs Bong) is hilarious, healthy and in good taste. The movie takes a light-hearted dig at the ‘cons’ of each culture and glorifies the beauty of both. So on the one hand, we have the show-off Punjabis accepting a divorcee Bengali girl as their daughter-in-law. On the other hand, there is the conservative Bengali dad who encourages his daughter to accept Vicky as her husband, regardless of his ‘sperm-donor’ status. Love wins over all and cultural barriers are meaningless there—that’s what Vicky’s mom and Ashima’s father bring to the fore. The stereotyped rhetorics are absent and this tussle between the cultures is great fun! Probably that's the real USP of the movie :).

Of course the movie also has its flaws and tends to get too filmy at times. But if you overlook those, you have a racy script, a fresh concept, brilliant acting, full-on humor and total entertainment for 2 hours—that sums up Vicky Donor.

Ayushman Khurrana certainly has a very bright future ahead. He has lent his voice to one of the songs and done the lyrics for it too. Good luck to this talented new kid on the block!

The movie is highly recommended.  

Back to School...

Saturday morning 5. 45 am! I don't remember when I saw that last. May be on a vacation to witness the Sunrise or decades ago--to get ready for school! On Feb 25, 2012 it seemed like I was reliving my school days. I was up in the morning and running to school! And all this thanks to the lovely kids of Navjivan school, Mumbai.

Though my association with the school was temporary and I met my students only on Saturdays over 4 months, we spent a lot of time having fun. I was associated with this school as a voluntary teacher on the Teach English Project, part of an initiative by an NGO, Dharma Bharathi. Thanks to the socially aware organization I work with, I met this NGO through a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. The introduction was through another reputed NGO- ivolunterers.

The project concluded on Feb 25 with a gala Annual Day function. The venue was an auditorium in Chembur, Mumbai and students from 12 schools that have been adopted by Dharma Bharathi participated. My students stole the show on that day. We had three performances-- a drama, duet song, and a group dance.

The group dance set the stage on fire and the audience requested a repeat performance. So, these little bravehearts waited till the end of all other performances and a rather lengthy awards ceremony to go up on stage again. They were tired, hungry and some even sleepy. But the combined energy and positivity they exuberated was exemplary. The enthusiasm to go up on stage again kept the tired faces smiling.

At the end of the program, we volunteers teamed up again and the whole gang returned back to our favorite Navjivan school laughing and singing all the way. The to-and-fro bus journey was great fun and the children never got tired of yelling, giggling, smiling and pulling pranks :). I totally understand how satisfying and yet tiring it is to be a teacher and manage 50 odd students in a class!!! At the corporate world. we make such a hue and cry about team management and project management and blah... but managing Class V to VIII students is quite a challenge :p.

When we bid adieu to the students, all of us felt very bad. Ankur Goyal from our team got the Best Volunteer Award from our school.

Prakash, Ankur, Nehal, Mahesh, Ritu, Prateek, Rakhee, Suneeta and I- along with all other vounteers - were thinking how fast these 4 months had passed. Kudos to Ajay Dhooth--the coordinator from our school who made this event a grand success. He also bagged the best Project Coordinator award at the function. 

Last but not the least, had it not been for Kajol Basu--our main support and the organizer of the whole event on 25th Feb, our students wouldn't get a chance to perform. Kajol worked relentlessly over months to bring us all together, impart sessions to us on how to teach, seek feedback from us at regular intervals and send us training material. Hat's off to the tenacity and determination, she surely qualifies to be a new age social reformer.

I hope we have another program with the students again next year. All volunteers thought 4 months was quite less to bring the children totally up-to speed with an almost new language. So, investing at least a year would be more meaningful. So, I'll wait till next year's plans open up.

Till then, I wish my students luck, love and laughter! God bless the angels always. Amen!

Here are some pics I clicked to capture moments from the D day and on the final day of rehersal:

      

Bharatmata- the showstopper of the group dance

 

Make up session





            

Sankesh who played Hindi Professor at the play

 

The awesome children as audience

 

A glimpse from the Group dance



and another

   

The 'porey porey' boys set the stage on fire



The Drama team in action





Magic show for the kids

  

Dance Rehersals

 


Volunteers chit-o-chat

 





Grabbing a quick bite





















Naughty and lovable young heroes