Some more romantic movie dialogues

1. P.S. I Love You
Denise Hennessey (finishes kissing Tom): What's my name?
Tom: Tom.
Denise Hennessey: Where've you been?
Tom: With all the wrong women. (he kisses her again)


2. Serendipity
Sara: You don't have to understand. You just have to have faith.
Jonathan: Faith in what?
Sara: Destiny





3. 50 First Dates
Henry (to Lucy): You erased me from your memories because you thought you were holding me back from having a full and happy life. But you made a mistake. Being with you is the only way I could have a full and happy life. You're the girl of my dreams... and apparently, I'm the man of yours.


4. Bridget Jones' Diary
Mark Darcy (to Bridget): I don't think you're an idiot at all. I mean, there are elements of the ridiculous about you. Your mother's pretty interesting. And you really are an appallingly bad public speaker. And, um, you tend to let whatever's in your head come out of your mouth without much consideration of the consequences... But the thing is, um, what I'm trying to say, very inarticulately, is that, um, in fact, perhaps despite appearances, I like you, very much. Just as you are.


5. The Holiday
Graham (to Amanda): I have another scenario for you - I'm in love with you. I apologize for the blunt delivery, but as problematic as this fact may be, I'm in love... with you. I'm not feeling this because you're leaving, and not because it feels good to feel this way... which, by the way, it does, or did before you went off like that. I can't figure out the mathematics of this, I just know I love you. I can't believe how many times I'm saying it! And I never thought I'd feel this way again, so that's pretty phenomenal. And I realize that I come as a package deal: 3 for the price of 1. I know my package, perhaps in the light of day, isn't all that wonderful, but I finally know what I want and that, in itself, is a miracle. And what I want is you.

NCL, Pune has a new Director

My Ph.D. supervisor, Dr. Sourav Pal has been appointed as the next Director of National Chemical Laboratory, Pune. On 1 December, 2010 he assumed duties that this new post brings. This was a day that we, his students, and I am sure his peers as well as colleagues knew was in the coming. It is a moment of pride not only for him but even for those of us who have had the oppourtunity to work with him.

Dr. Pal is well reknowned in the area of theoretical and computational chemistry. Amongst the many honours that he has won are the prestigious INSA and CSIR Young Scientist awards in 1987 and 1989 respectively, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in 2000 and J. C. Bose National Fellowship of DST in 2008.

Unlike many research groups, students in Dr. Pal's lab are involved both in development and applications of computational programs. Unlike many scientists he hasn't been afraid from branching out into territories which were not his core subject to begin with but have now become his strong points.

What I liked about Sir as a guide is that he is not a heavy duty hands-on boss. He gives his students a lot of freedom to carry on research in their individualistic ways. At the same time he continues to remain aware of their progress, provide that nudge on those much needed occasions and contribute to their work through valuable suggestions. Dr. Pal once told us that in his view good students need space to excel. A diligent student will really strive and thrive in the absence of a strict daily morning to evening monitoring system. It is with the hope that he is able to help nurture at least one such student that he gives everyone so much independence.

-----------
You can find learn more about the new Director through the following links:
http://www.ncl-india.org/nclnews/news.jsp?mid=15#
http://www.ncl.res.in/tcs/estg/spalhomepage.html
http://www.ncl-india.org/aboutncl/showfilein.jsp?mid=2&sid=66&ssid=83
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sourav_Pal

Some tips from my Ph.D. experience

In my last post I had summarized my journey as a Ph.D. student in a poem. But there are some topics that I feel strongly about but were remained unsaid. So I am putting them here pointwise.

Globe trotting

From the very beginning I made it a point to showcase my research at conferences. Of course being able to see a new city or a new country was an added attraction. At the same time I took each occasion seriously. Whether it was a poster or an oral presentation I found I benefited from the question-answer rounds. As an instance, when I presented my work to a committee in NCL which was judging my application for a travel grant to attend an international conference I was offered some suggestions. Realizing the importance of the points I made suitable additions to the paper that I was writing then and this definitely gave it an extra something.

In one of the earlier summer schools that I had participated in I was pointed out a certain flaw in the computational methodology that I was using. With that one comment my entire efforts of a good five months came crashing down. Of course I was horrified and full of remorse. But I also took advantage of the same school and set about discussing with the professors prospective solutions to my problem. I realized I would have to start all over again but with the confidence that I would be on the right track.

I am sure many students doing Ph.D in India will agree with me that getting funding for attending international conferences is not easy. Scientific agencies normally either cover just your travel or just accommodation expenses. In some cases the financial support is not large enough for managing both. The paper work required to receive the reimbursement after returning is tedious as well. But eventually the efforts turn out to be worth it.

My Ph.D. guide used to call these international conferences as melas (huge fetes) for the sheer size and magnitude at which they are organized. But it is exactly for these very reasons that I recommend one such tour to everyone. Only when you go out there you realize what a small speck you are even within your area of specialization. There is nothing like coming face to face with your competition. Watching speakers deliver keynote lectures to full houses instilled in me a dream to one day be up on the dias like them. If you have lost your drive this is a place where you will find it.

Scripting success

I had read somewhere that the best way to learn how to write a good scientific paper is to first find out what appeals to you as a reader. As I went through already published reports in my research field, I singled out the ones whose flow had me hooked till the last line. I took notice of the manner in which the authors discussed the reasons behind the conclusions from their results. This tremendously helped when I penned my own papers.

A common mistake which students make is not checking for bad spellings and grammar. Once deciding up on a journal find out what are the formatting requirements for your article. These days journals maintain detailed guidelines for authors on there websites. Some even keep suitable templates which you simply have to download and fit your paper in. Be particularly careful in the style of referencing used. Ask your friends and siblings to read the final result and take into consideration their views. Rejection on account of careless writing normally leaves a bad impression in the editors' mind for you and even more for your supervisor.

Nailing the thesis

Normally students start the thesis writing process only after taking permission from their guides. But that shouldn't stop you from planning it way in advance. Midway in my Ph.D I drew an outline of how my thesis will be. I knew early on which papers I will be combining together and which dividing into different chapters. This listing also helped bring to my attention areas that needed more work to make my thesis complete.

Towards the end of 2008 I was nearing completion of my Ph.D but the last remaining part was like the elephant's tale refusing to come out of the hole. To motivate myself I began typing Chapter 2 - Theoretical background of my thesis. Indeed it brought a new vigour in my day to day activities. Furthermore, a couple of months later when I went head on into the writing mode after getting my Boss's nod it led to a speedy finish.

I request the students who are writing or about to begin, to love this act... to take joy in it. Decide on your own formatting scheme within the realm of rules of your university. Many like to add quotations in the epilogue and prologue. In my thesis I had a quotation for every chapter in tandem with its underlying chemistry theme. I spent days searching those perfect lines.

Remember, your thesis is going to be a compilation of your years of sweat and toil. Its cover is going to bear your name. So delve into it with passion. Then when it is ready you will proudly show it off to everyone. There will be a twinkle in your eye and a big smile on your lips that will refuse to leave. :)

Ode in prose

6th September, 2010 will go down as one of my most memorable days. It was on this day when I gave my Ph.D viva. It was the culmination of all the efforts and struggles of the years gone by. In this poem I have attempted to capture these ups and down moments of my time in NCL. I hope you like it. Here goes...

The story begins in April 2004
As a guest worker I land on NCL's shore
I felt a bit clueless in the start
Making new friends was a hard task
Everybody seemed busy, they knew their way around
"Was I in the right place?" came the question in rebound

Quite some time went by until I adjusted
My new JRF position had me comforted
Untried areas in research I was charting
But that is what made it all the more exciting
2005 was therefore a learning period
Every passing day I was gaining experience

The year ended with an oral presentation at a conference
And another can of 365 days was opened with confidence
I worked hard for the next 5 months
I even wrote a paper for a journal
Much to my dismay it got panned at a workshop
The signs said "You'll have to start from scratch."

Disheartened, broken, crushed I returned
The midnight oil I then practically burned
In this midst my colleagues were merrily publishing
And some even had this to me out pointing
Jealous, angry, upset I became
Promotion to SRF was the only saving grace

In 2007 God tested my patience
My paper swayed between rejection and acceptance
To attend a conference in Boston I also tried
On time but my US visa never arrived
So I went to Delhi to divert my mind
A recharged self I did there find

2008 was probably my best
The jigsaw pieces were getting finally set
Two of my papers saw the light of the day
And a third one was well on its way
For a week I went to Sydney and another to Singapore
The latter had me (thanks to my Boss) as an invited speaker

Personally and professionally things were looking up
I decided it would be in 2009 that I would wind up
I juggled running calculations and writing chapters
Bound I had 8 thesis copies ready come September
Seeing my name embossed was a proud moment
I was so happy, I could not contain it

With a thumping heart I submitted my thesis
I wondered what will now motivate me to surge ahead
The deal was not yet over I reminded myself
It was another year before I could give my PhD defense
Thankfully I spoke well in my dissertation
I even answered decently in the Q&A session

The committee declared me as elgible for the award of the degree
And a fortnight later I received a letter confirming my Doctorate of Philosophy
With this my association with NCL came to a close
Along with the victory, was a sense of loss
This was some journey I must say
So I wrote this ode to everyone regale

Daylight saving time

Many countries in the world follow the practice of Daylight Saving Time (DST). In summer they shift the time ahead by an hour and in the winters bring it back to its actual setting. The idea is to take an hour of light from the day and add it to the evening. Thus, between March and November the sun effectively sets 60 minutes later than the usual.

It was my recent change of residence to Uppsala, Sweden that brought DST to my attention. My question is that why is the clock shifted back at all in winters? Logically, it is in the fall season that I would actually prefer to have a longer duration of daylight. Shouldn't then the DST be implemented the other way round? :)

Thoughts in Chennai

My experiences in the last few months have made me realize that:

Nothing tests you like having to keep patience. *especially when you are in a hurry*

Only when the ordeal gets over are you able to joke about it. *all through it you of course cringe*

Look around and you will find that your troubles are not the greatest. *but this doesn't make me feel any better*

The future beckons as well as springs doubts. *However excited you may be for what is about to happen, you cannot help but question "What will happen next?"*

Much of life's happiness is in the hundreds of little moments. *kisi ke jaane ke baad, aaye phir uski yaad... choti choti si baat*

Distance doesn't separate when hearts are one. *but I prefer not being away*

Wherever you may live, home is where he is. *and home is where I want to head to asap*

Gajar ka halwa

This is a very simple and quick recipe for making Gajar ka halwa in the microwave which I had seen on one of Sanjeev Kapoor's Khana Khazana episodes a long time ago. It was first tried and tested by yours truly on Valentine's Day this year. So here goes:

Ingredients:

6 medium sized gajar (carrots) grated
4 tbsp ghee
6 tbsp sugar (or more if needed)
Badam, pistas, and kaju coarsely chopped pieces
A handful of kishmish
1 cup khoya or milk powder

Method:

In a microwave safe borosil dish mix together the grated gajar and ghee. Microwave on high for 2 min.

(Tip: Whether cooking in a microwave or on a stove it is better to use a flat pan instead of a kadhai because then the grated carrots are spread better and get cooked compratively quickly.)

Now add sugar and mix well. Microwave on high for 1.5 min.

Add in the chopped badams, kajus, kishmish and half of the pistas. Microwave for 2 min.

Next add the khoya by making small pieces of it. Alternatively you can add milk powder. Mix in such a manner that it remains lumpy. Microwave on high for 2 min.

Taste to test the sweetness. Adjust accordingly.

Garnish with the remaining pistas and microwave on high for another 2 min.

Your gajar ka halwa is now ready to be served!

A story, Udaan and 3 Idiots

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?"

Hands started going up.

He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air.

"Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. You are special - Don't ever forget it!”

I was emailed this motivating story by a friend of mine. In a short and simple manner it tells its readers to continue to have faith in themselves and not to forget their self worth whatever the life’s difficulties. This will give you the courage to chase your dreams even amidst strong opposition. Rohan’s character in the film Udaan exemplifies this.

Suspended from a boarding school in Shimla, Rohan (Rajat Barmecha) is sent back home to start living with his father Bhairav (Ronit Roy) in Jamshedpur whom he hasn’t met in eight years. On returning he finds a six year old step brother Arjun (Ayan Boradia), whose existence he wasn’t told about, waiting for him. Their father, a strict authoritarian, compels them to live their lives by his rules. For example, his sons must address him as “Sir” and not Papa. Every morning he makes them get out of bed. While Arjun has to stand at the gate with a stop watch, Rohan has to join him for a 40 minutes jog around the city. On reaching close to home the two have to break into a race in which inevitably Rohan loses however hard he tries.

Rohan wants to study literature and become a writer. He even has a diary whose pages are filled with his stories and poems. But his father is set against it and forces Rohan to work in his factory during the day and study engineering in the afternoon. Despite his father’s unflattering remarks on one of his poems, he continues to write.

Much of Bhairav’s anger and frustration is vented on his children. One such occasion results in Arjun’s hospitalization. As Bhairav has to go on a business trip he leaves behind Rohan to take care of Arjun. In the absence of their disciplinarian father the two brothers come close. Their happy and peaceful days are short lived. Back from tour when their father comes to know that Rohan has failed his engineering exams, he burns the much treasured diary.

Then one day his father announces that he is going to get married a third time, send his younger son to boarding school and make his elder son quit studies entirely to join his factory full time. Rohan’s Uncle (Ram Kapoor) tries to reason with Bhairav but it leads to an altercation between the two brothers.

Time is moving. A prospective bride is brought home. Arjun’s suitcase is being packed. Rohan’s friends taunt him. He thrashes his father’s car and spends a night in jail. His tolerance threshold crossed, Rohan tells his father he is leaving the house. Rohan runs with Bhairav close on his heels and for once the father loses the race. Knowing that his younger brother needs him, Rohan returns but only to take along with him Arjun before he can be packed away to boarding school. The two brothers walk away hand in hand with smiles on their faces and hope in their hearts for a beautiful future which they will carve out on their own.

Udaan’s underlying theme of pursuing your passion instead of the course decided by your parents is the same as that of 3 Idiots. But I feel it is Udaan that really scores over 3 Idiots in every way. It showcases how you don’t need (a) a 40 something Aamir Khan to play an 18 year old, (b) witty dialogues in every situation, (c) caricature characters like Virus and, (d) a great location like Ladakh for making a scene look beautiful, to bring home the message.

It is indeed the absence of the above 4 elements that makes watching Udaan a heart warming experience. The manner in which the bonding between Rohan and Arjun is developed is very endearing. The day to day activites such as when Rohan goes out at night taking without permission his father's car, his deliberately spending a long time in front of the mirror, and Arjun's being made to carry messages up and down the building between Bhairav and Rohan bring in a realism without boring the viewer. Along with Rohan we feel every bit of his sadness at parting ways with his school friends, his angst against his father, his helplessness at not being able to change the circumstances, his happiness when his talent gets recognized by unexpected quarters, his struggle to beat his father in the morning races and his exhilaration at the flight or udaan he takes as he narrowly escapes from his father's clutches and breaks free.

In a line, Udaan is a perfect blend of a good story, right casting, sincere performances, fitting music, engaging editing, and bang on target direction.

Lead us not into temptation

Lying in bed the other night as I let my thoughts wander it struck me, that in life the acts that entice us are always the bad ones. For example, wanting to

watch tv when you know you should be studying for an upcoming exam,
eat chocolates, pastries and burgers when you know you should be sticking to your diet,
sleep when you know should be cooking,
splurge when you know you should be saving,
say lies and hide things when you know you should be be telling the truth,
dwell on issues when you know you should be concentrating elsewhere,
set lose your wrath when you know you should be keeping calm, and
give up at the last moment when you know you should be persevering some more.

In each of the above cases giving in comes at some cost. At the end of the day the pleasure turns out to be momentary with our conscience constantly reminding us of our guilt. Knowing this very well, still so many times we are unable to be on good behaviour. Maintaining restraint doesn't come easily. Perhaps that is why we ask the Lord in prayer,

“Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”

Test of your love

Here is a nice quote which tells how absence is a litmus test for your love. :)

Absence is to love what wind is to fire;

it extinguishes the small,

it enkindles the great.

- Comte de Bussy-Rabnutin

Sightseeing

I feel if reaching a destination is exhilarating then the journey undertaken for it is taxing, testing and thought provoking. In July my husband and I went touring to Agra, Jaipur and Manali. We returned happy and satisfied with many memories to treasure. Watching the beauty of the Taj Mahal, the enormity of the Aamer Fort and the splendour of the Rohtang Pass with the Ladakh mountains forming its backdrop left us spellbound. We travelled by road to all these cities. There were various kinds of sights that we saw in addition to the above, such as:

Hounding guides at the heritage monuments.
Populated markets, where at every step we had vendors after us to buy their goods.
Dhabas situated at deserted locations in between cities.
Small settlements in conditions and at heights you wouldn’t want to return to a second time.
People making their livelihood by selling tea and taking photos at 13,000 ft!
A man, leaving the sanctuary of his home, driving for days on end through treacherous routes.

What makes men and women lead such difficult lives and continually so? Wouldn’t they prefer any other way? I don’t believe that it is simply a lack of vision and/or ambition posing as obstacles, but a lack of means.

Extremely hard though it might be, these people haven’t surrendered but are striving to meet their needs. And all the struggles and sacrifices are always for a better tomorrow.

Kahin toh hogi woh

The film Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na caught the nation’s attention when it was released in 2008. Imran Khan and Genelia Dsouza became overnight sensations and crowds began calling them by their respective nicknames used in the movie: Rats and Meow. The refreshing songs gained popularity even as they hit the tv screens. However, it was only a week ago that I heard Kahin toh hogi woh... in its entirety. As with many songs that I love this too has few accompaniments with the stress on the vocals. But it was really the lyrics that struck a chord with me and got me listening to it repeatedly.

The song voices my sentiments. Not having someone besides me these days makes me yearn for the world:

where we will be together (Kahin toh hogi woh duniya jahaan tu mere saath hai),
where there will be days when I will wake up in the morning to find him gazing at me lovingly (Hogi jahaan subah teri palkon ki kirano mein),
where every night I will fall asleep in his arms (Lori jahaan chaand ki sune teri baahon mein),
where there will be a magic of sorts every time we meet (Hai nasha teri meri har mulakaat mein),
and where at any and every pretext we will kiss each other (Hoton se hoton ko chumte o rehte hai hum har baat pe).

Believe me when I say that only where he is, is my laughter, my happiness... my life. (Jahaan hai tu, meri hassi meri khushi meri jaan)

Here is the full song for you to enjoy:

Film: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
Music: A. R. Rahman
Lyrics: Abbas Tyrewala
Singers: Rashid Ali and Vasundhara Das

Kahin toh... Kahin toh hogi woh

Duniya jahaan tu mere saath hai

Jahaan main jahaan tu

Aur jahaan bas tere mere jazbaat hai

Hogi jahaan subah teri

Palkon ki kirano mein

Lori jahaan chaand ki

Sune teri baahon mein

Jaane na kahan woh duniya hai

Jaane na woh hai bhi ya nahi

Jahaan meri zindagi mujhse

Itni khafa nahi...

Saasein kho gai hai kiski aahon mein

Main kho gai hoon jaane kiski baahon mein

Manzilon se rahein dhoondti chali

Khud kho gai hai manzil kahin raahon mein

Kahin toh... Kahin toh hai nasha

Teri meri har mulakaat mein

Hoton se hoton ko

Chumte o rehte hai hum har baat pe

Kehti hai fiza jahan

Teri zameen aasman

Jahaan hai tu, meri hassi
Meri khushi meri jaan

Jaane na kahan woh duniya hai

Jaane na woh hai bhi ya nahi

Jahaan meri zindagi mujhse

Itni khafa nahi...

Mila's Daydreams

Mila's Daydreams, was recently recognized as a Blog of Note by Blogger.com and it absoutely deserves it. Its blogowner is Adele Enersen from Helsinki who posts on it photos of her baby daughter Mila while she is asleep, captured in various settings imagined to be her dreams. One time Mila is Mary Poppins and another time Little Pink Riding Hood. One day she has Gone Fishin and another day Horse Riding. One time Mila is Walking a Dog and another time she is the Princess whose sleep gets disturbed by a pea.

Check all these and many more photos on: http://milasdaydreams.blogspot.com/. It is a blog which can make anyone's day.

Morning school assemblies

Yesterday was my Ph.D. viva and it made me ask myself the question when was the first time I had spoken on a platform. The answer was in class fifth. From the faint memories I have of that time I recall that during an English lesson I had recited a poem from our reader titled "Abou ben Adam". My teacher was rather pleased and felt I should give a repeat performance in the school's morning assembly. She had to specially take permission from the Junior School (classes Nursery-V) Headmistress to allow me to speak. I practised quite hard and it paid off. When the moment arrived I managed to deliver without faltering.

In Middle School (classes VI-VIII) and Senior School (classes IX-XII) the format of the assemblies was different. Every day the assembly was conducted by students of one of the houses (Chenab, Ganga, Sutlej, Ravi, Yamuna and Jhelum) of the school. It would have to include a thought for the day, followed by the morning news, scripture reading and then speech. I spoke on many occasions and even enjoyed it, sometimes speaking because I wanted to and sometimes for filling in for a student gone absent.

A few years after I passed out of my alma mater I heard that barring a few special assemblies this morning ritual had been stopped. While some of my friends rejoiced at this news, I thought it was sad. Agreed because of the school timings and the extreme weather in Delhi we used to find ourselves either sweating in the sweltering heat or shivering in the biting cold in the huge playground. But it also gave us the chance to gossip with friends, exchange notes with students of other sections, and to look at awe at all the seniors and dream about growing up. It used to be a proud moment when receiving a certificate or a prize from the hands of a chief guest in front of such a huge audience.

For going to debating or recitation competitions one always needed the backing of teachers who had the necessary authority. But for speaking in assemblies there was full freedom. If you had the willingness then all you had to do was express your interest to the House Captains and they'd happily give you the next immediately available chance.

For me it was through such experiences that I gained confidence, developed public speaking skills and managed to get over stage fright. I, therefore, fervently wish that this practice of morning assemblies is brought back to schools and continued so that young students who are otherwise shy learn to shed their inhibitions and take pride in themselves.

On becoming a Tamil movie watcher

In the days when there was only Doordarshan, on every Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons films in regional languages used to be telecast. Being an avid movie lover I would rarely miss these film shows irrespective of the fact that on many an occasion I did not even follow the language. It must be this training because of which I haven't really minded the Tamil films that I have been made to view since last year by someone.

My knowledge has finally extended beyond Rajnikanth, Kamal Hassan and Madhavan. I can now recognize Suriya, Dhanush, Vijay, Simbu, Vikram, Ajith, Nayantara, Tamanna and Anushka Shetty. Months before Khatta Meetha trailers hit the screen I knew who Trisha was thanks to her success in the film Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa. While I'll be seeing many more Tamil films in the years to come, of the ones I have watched so far my favourites are Yavarum Nalam, Kaaka Kaaka, and Chennai 600028.

The Madhavan starrer Yavarum Nalam (meaning Everything is well) was the first Tamil film that I saw on screen. Its plot which is drama based as opposed to dialogue based, made for an easy understanding leaving the requirement of translation irrelevant.

The story is that a family moves into an apartment 13B. Soon the womenfolk get hooked on to a television serial by the name Yavarum Nalam. One day Madhavan realizes that the serial is a lot like their own lives. Soon he starts seeing even more similarities. Whatever happens to the characters happens to his family members as well. When an episode shows his wife undergoing a miscarriage, Madhavan decides to unearth the mystery. The events that then unfold keep you to your seats edge. Like the hero you are filled with disbelief that he will kill his own family as the soap opera predicts. At no point are you able to guess who is behind it all.

Yaavarum Nalam is surely a must watch. For those interested there is also the option of going for its Hindi version by the name 13B.

I had read somewhere that Suriya is like the Aamir Khan of Tamil films. His 2009 release Aadhavan however raised grave doubts in my mind, until I got to see Kaaka Kaaka (meaning To protect).

Its beginning is very intriguing, with police officer Anbuchelvan (Suriya) being shown as lying almost dead on the banks of a river with his thoughts only about saving a girl named Maya. The film then goes into a flashback when Anbu was a part of a specialist group allowed to use any means to wipe out crime. A man of few words, his affection for Maya (Jyotika), a school teacher whom he befriends, is revealed when she meets with an accident. During an encounter Anbu and his group kill a gang leader involved in a kidnapping case whose brother Pandya then decides to take revenge. The members of the special unit find their families and themselves targeted. In the midst of this Anbu and Maya get married and go to Pondicherry. But Pandya and his aides land up there and take away Maya leaving behind a brutally injured Anbu, bringing us back to the point where the story had begun. On recovering he starts his search for Maya and it is revealed who had given away the vital information to Pandya about his whereabouts in Pondicherry. In what I thought was a shocker ending, during his face-off with Anbu, Pandya stabs Maya who dies. An angry Anbu tracks down Pandya and finally kills him. The film shows that after this Anbu resumes his duties as a police officer and his old lonely life.

What I liked about Kaaka Kaaka was its tight script. The sweet love story between Anbu and Maya does not hinder the pace of the movie. Presentation wise it has a slick look. The performances are restrained and not over the top. Suriya plays the tough guy-silent lover combination perfectly. Not surprising then that this film relegated the actor to stardom.

In complete contrast to the above two films is Chennai 600028. Its one of those comic capers which actually make you laugh. The story is simple. It is about two warring cricket teams: Rockers and Sharks. The starting point of the film is the Radio Mirchi Cup Final which the Sharks end up losing. From there on the movie is about the events that unfold in the lives of the 11 members of the Shark team during the year until the next finals. Will the Sharks emerge victorious and be able to successfully avenge their previous year's loss? Chennai 600028 has got one of the most unpredictable and hilarious endings I have ever seen. I recommend it to anybody who wants to unwind after a tough day.

Raavanan

From the time Mani Ratnam wowed me with Anjali and Roja I have always looked forward to his new releases. Now that he makes films simultaneously in different languages, as opposed to simply dubbing them, they grab headlines all the more. So it has been the case for Raavanan (Tamil), Villain (Telugu), and Raavan (Hindi).

In the midst of housefull signs I luckily managed to see Raavanan. As the title suggests the film is centered around the antagonist and not the protagonist of the Ramayan. The story starts from the Sita haran episode. Veeraiyya or Veera (played by Vikram), considered a terrorist, kidnaps Ragini (Aishwarya Rai), SP Officer Dev Prakash's (Prithviraj) wife. The first shot of Veera jumping into a deep waterfall is breathtaking. He exhibits a fearful imposing presence atop a ship that is deliberately ramming into Ragini's small boat. From there on begins a tough journey for the kidnapper and his victim amidst dense jungles and devastating weather. At the same time Dev starts his search in which he is helped by a forest officer Gnanaprakasam (Karthik), the counterpart of Hanuman. Infact later in the film there is a rip off of the classic part in the Ramayan where Hanuman meets Sita in Ashok Vatika to inform her that Ram is on his way to take her back from Raavan's Lanka. In another borrowed sequence as the husband and wife are returning Dev like Ram questions Raagini's faithfulness, purity. In the film you also find equivalents of Raavan's sister Shrupnakha, here Venilla (Priyamani) and of Vibhishan, here Sakkarai (Munna). However, there are portions in which Raavanan significantly departs from the Ramayan.

Unlike Valmiki's epic you are unable to call the end a victory of good over evil. Veera's black is mixed with white and Dev's white is amply sprinkled with black. There are scores of villagers who revere Veera for his kindness towards them. It is revealed that Ragini's kidnap was an act of avenging the molestation Venilla was subject to by the police following which she committed suicide. The sad tale even brings tears in Ragini's eyes and softens her towards the villain.

In contrast while Dev is a loving husband, there is a madness in his drive to catch the terrorist which even seems to overide his desire to find his wife. Shockingly when Sakkarai comes to surrender, Dev kills him. Dev's doubting Ragini is a deliberate ploy which leads to the eventual gunning down of Veera. Ragini's efforts to save Veera turn useless and bullet-ridden as he falls down a cliff the villain is tranformed into a hero.

The exacting conditions in which most part of the film is shot must have posed a monumental challenge for the actors as well as the technicians. As the end credits rolled I wondered if such physically demanding scenes were a necessity. But then it is these very similarities and differences from the Ramayan which give us something to ponder over, else Raavanan would have been a simple fare.

Blame it on the weather

I came across this comic strip in yesterday's The Hindu. Having a meteorologist father, it really tickled me. Hope it does the same to you. :-)

Loss of an identity

Today was my last official day at NCL, Pune. In the last one week I had been striving to get various signatures from officers of various departments on the No Dues Certificate, a necessary procedure to be carried out before leaving. Nothing made me realize the significance of it all as much as the act of returning my ID Card.

I had started off in NCL as a guest worker. For months I worked out of my own will, without the status of an NCL employee. So when I finally got selected as a Junior Research Fellow on a project and was issued an Id. Card I decided to always wear it showing it off as opposed to stowing it away in my bag or pocket. It gave me a sense of belonging. Every morning before entering the NCL gate I would put it around my neck feeling every bit important. So I felt really sad when I had to give up my Id. Card. There was a lump in my throat. It was as if I was losing a valuable part of myself.

In the evening while leaving the NCL premises as I walked the usual distance from lab to the gate I realized that from now on I could enter it only as a visitor, a guest. Its back to square one.

Julie & Julia and me

A week back I saw the movie Julie & Julia. The film interweaves the somewhat similar lives of Julie Powell (Amy Adams) and Julia Child (Meryl Streep), two women separated by half a century.

Julie Powell lives in Manhattan of 2002. She has a supporting and lovable husband Eric. She has an unsatisfying and a sad job. Her failed attempts at writing books have left her disillusioned. Her one solace is cooking.

Julia Child is the wife of a diplomat who finds herself living in Paris in 1949 because of her husband's posting. With nothing to do she starts taking classes to learn cooking. In doing so she discovers a passion and talent for it. Starting as a student she goes on to co-author a book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. The publishing of the book was a journey of quite a few years during which she gets immense support from her husband Paul.

Julie Powell is an admirer of Julia Child. In order to give direction to her life she decides to take up a "project" of cooking all of the 536 recipes of Julia Child's famous book in 365 days. She also starts chronicling her day-to-day experiences of this project in a blog. As the year progresses the blog gains popularity and so does Julie. After a story about it in the New York Times she is contacted by several publishers and agents who are keen on turning her blog into a book. The film ends with Julie succeeding in accomplishing her mission followed by her getting to see the print copy of her first book titled Julie & Julia.

Comparing my behviour in the kitchen to the two lead characters I realized I am more like Julie Powell. There is a scene in the film in which in trying to bone a duck Julie Powell accidently spills the entire contents on the floor. The result is an angry woman venting fire and tears at the same time lying resolutely on the messy floor. It reminded me of one Sunday morning when I acted worse than this.

The story goes that I had begun the day by cleaning every nook and cranny of my kitchen. Having done with that I collected all the necessary ingredients in the mixer for making an onion chutney to have with dosas for breakfast. I made a little puree first and then added some more onions to it. But when this time I twisted the mixer knob it generated such a force that everything came spilling out. I was shell shocked. The chutney had spared nothing. Portions of it had landed on the walls, the slab, the stove, the nearby microwave, the floor, and ofcourse me. It was horrifying seeing what my squeaking clean kitchen had been turned into within 5 seconds. Angrily I cursed the mixer and myself. Mouthing venom and crying like a lunatic I attacked the kitchen with a duster and water raging vengence. I was a riot!

In my defense I am emotional when it comes to cooking. When dishes turn out well and I see my husband eating happily it is like the best compliment ever. But when its not so, it upsets me as if I have failed as the woman of the house in some big way.

I definitely must try to become like Julia Child. Her nature was so mild. She never blew up. Most importantly she was a happy cook. She enjoyed every bit of it whether she was able to flip the contents of the pan properly or not.

From this day forth I resolve to take things lightly in my trysts with cooking. :-)

3 Idiots

Some years back I was browsing through the bookstore Crossword when I noticed a book titled "Five point someone - What not to do at IIT!". I was attracted by the reference to my alma mater and bought it immediately. When I was through with reading the book I somewhat felt disappointed. It didn't make me any happier when I heard that Raju Hirani was going to make a film based on it featuring my favourite actor Aamir Khan.

3 Idiots released close to Christmas. Initially I wasn't in a mood to see it because of my grave doubts. The good reviews and the juntas comments on Aamir Khan's blog however got me curious.

For once I thought a movie managed to beat the book that inspired it. It had lots of witty dialogues, smart situations, and a decent emotional content. I enjoyed 3 Idiots. But I did not love it. Unlike the two Munnabhais and Taare Zameen Par it just did not leave me moved. Perhaps the film was too entertaining. I understand the need for telling a message in an engaging and lighthearted fashion. But everything does not have to be turned into a joke like the struggles which Raju's (Sharman Joshi) family faces in lieu of supporting his engineering degree. This is a story of many a students coming to study at IITs or for that matter at medical schools. For me it is not a laughing matter. The funny means by which the other two idiots Rancho (Aamir Khan) and Farhan (Madhavan) help Raju recover from his suicide attempt takes away from the seriousness of the situation that had lead him to take the drastic step.

Further, I thought that the teaching community had been unjustly represented only through the characters of the Dean (Boman Irani) and other professors who insult and make fun of the three lead characters all the time. There are three cases of suicide in it. The race for coming first and the grueling learning system adopted by the engineering college which are responsible for two of these deaths is never really shown.

Except for Rancho and Farhan no one seems to have pursuits beyond studies. You just have to attend one of the several competitions in the areas of dramatics, music and art or the events in the yearly IIT festivals to know this is not true. Innovative ideas are not exactly squashed either. In IIT Bombay's famous Robotics festival you can see innumerable displays of cutting edge designs developed by students coming from all over India to participate. It is now commonplace even in colleges to invite well established figures to deliver keynote lectures at special occasions to inspire the youth to use their talent.

I do agree when the film says that one must pursue what you are passionate about. Some in audience have wrongly come out thinking that it says don't be a doctor or an engineer. Instead it drives home the point that by all means take up that profession but only as long as your heart is in it and not just because it has been mapped by your parents for you from the time you were born. My point however is that you might not really know after class 12th what you want to be. You might need those years in college in order to discover yourself and your passions. Like it is for Farhan to come to a conclusion that he should afterall pursue photography. Of course he knows it would also require him to work hard and struggle but at least it would be for something he loves.

To give 3 Idiots its due it does tell us an important message which could have got lost in all the frolic and entertainment. In Baba Ranchod Das Chanchad's words don't chase success, chase excellence. If you do the latter then success will automatically follow. But if your goal is simply earning big bucks then at some point you may end up taking a wrong route to it. I loved what Aamir Khan said in an interview I caught on tv. Instead of asking our children how many marks they scored in tests or did they come first or second in exams we should ask them did they help their friends, did they do something nice or did they bring a smile on someone's face during the day. Then automatically the focus will shift from the running madly in a race to becoming well rounded individuals with caring hearts.

Love aaj kal

Having loved Jab We Met, I had been wanting to see its director Imtiaz Ali's next film Love Aaj Kal. My wish was granted only recently. Very simply the movie compares love in today's times (aaj kal) with the way it was in yesteryears through two story lines running in parallel.

Rishi Kapoor's dialogue illustrates this difference very well. He remarks that when he fell in love he started working so that he could unite with his girl while now work has become the reason for couples breaking up, a course which Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone take in the film. Neither believes their relationship would survive the distance brought about by a change in jobs and so in a very normal conversation they decide to part ways amicably minus any tears. They continue to remain "friends". They meet secretly and pay more attention to each other than the new special persons of their respective lives. It has to take Deepika to get married to Rahul Khanna to realize that she is still in love with Saif Ali Khan! However, she shies away from telling him the truth because she finds out that this time he has landed a dream job which will take him elsewhere. So once again the two lovers find themselves separately pining. Many months pass before they finally unite to give the film the traditional happy ending.

One of the reasons Love Aaj Kal doesn't work for me is because the initial love story between the two protagonists is never built up. The magic or chemistry which is responsible for bringing them together is never explored. The dating period is shown in such a fast forward manner that there seems to be no depth in the couple's relationship and it is difficult for me as an audience to understand what is so great about the two that they are still hung up on each other even after splitting up. Moments before getting married to Rahul Khanna, Deepika meets Saif Ali Khan. Yet the two of them refuse to recognize the importance of the moment and do not even then acknowledge that things were never over between them.

The film depicts a rather sorry picture of the present youth which I do not agree with. Indeed today all women are not satisfied with only taking care of home. Men too are becoming increasingly supportive of their girl friends' or wives' career goals. Both are willing to go that extra mile for each other. Unlike the lead pair, they do not simply give up without even trying. I know of couples who have handled such situations well. Not that its easy. It requires a great deal of patience, faith, and love. But they'd rather be together even if from afar than not all. Sadly the film instead depicts its hero-heroine representing our generation, first as so practical in life that they are devoid of any emotion even when breaking up and later on as two confused people who are incapable of deciphering their own feelings.