Life hai Gullak si 😊

I didn't watch the previous seasons of Gullak. I somehow belong to the detective, mystery and action genre of films and series. A few friends suggested to watch Gullak but i turned a deaf ear to it. However the other day as i was browsing through the television I came across the third season of Gullak and thought of giving it a try. The only familiar face in it was Geetanjali Kulkarni whom I loved watching in the series Taj Mahal. I said to myself agar yeh hai cast mein toh ekbar try karna toh banta hai. 

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon and I was missing my parents a lot. Sundays were all about family time when Babu would be home all day. He would take the typical Kolkata 'bajarer bag' and go mutton shopping from Yakub's shop. He would ensure he got the best rewazi pieces for us and the bone marrow for us siblings. Maa would cook her delectable 'pathar mangshor jhol', the aroma would spread far and wide. Bhai and I would drool and loiter around the kitchen with a bowl until Maa gave one or two pieces in it for us to taste. Later the whole family would have a good meal together and head to the bed for afternoon siesta. Aah woh bhi kya din the!

The trailer of Gullak somehow made me feel that the series is something like going back memory lane to the bygone era of simplicity and being happy together come what may. The nostalgia made me press the remote button to Gullak. Oh boy! Mishraji and parivar was an instant connect and soooooo relatable. Each episode was a treat to watch until the last one... I mean kaun karta hai aisa viewers ke saath? 

Mishraji ne toh Dara hi Diya thaa yaar! Izzati ki chamkar is the name of the episode and I am sure every middle class family will have tears rolling down while watching this brilliant episode. The brilliance with which the episode is shot is commendable. End of the day it's the Izzat that a hard working,honest man has earned over the years and when he sees that shattering in front of his eyes he succumbs. Vaibhav Raj Gupta .. bhai tu genius hai! Kaise kar leta hai aisi acting itne Aram se .. rula diya tune humko. Harsh Mayer bhaisaab woh chote bhai wala kirdar... Aah! You won my heart bro! This episode is actually an epitome of coming of age for middle class kids where they realise the importance of the father and how much that man means to children. Mrs. Shanti Mishra aapko pranam Mataji, no melodrama yet so strong portrayal of the wife in crisis. Aur Jameel Khan aka Mishraji you personified the fathers of most part of India to the tee. I mean how, how did you all create such magic with such simplicity on screen? 

I am so glad that i watched the series and believe me after watching the first thing I did was going back to my family photos stored in my mobile with moist eyes. I felt grateful for my family. Yes, we are weirdos in our own way but end of the day we are a family which is normal,which is perfect with its imperfections. Series like Gullak touches the right chord and makes audience feel and relate to emotions, moments, feelings of the real India. What a great watch it was! Team Gullak apka gullak hamesha bhara rahen with love and blessings. Looking forward to watching more seasons soon. 

#gullak #geetanjalikulkarni #ott #tvseries #jameelkhan #vaibhavrajgupta #harshmayer #films

Satyajit Aparajito, the undefeated

Watched Aporajito yesterday in PVR Juhu, Mumbai. Auditorium 2 was almost housefull and I felt like I am watching the film in some multiplex in Kolkata. Saree clad aunties, quintessential Bangali 'bhodroloks', bunch of youngsters who i guess are born and brought up in Mumbai. It was such a nice feeling to see the children accompany their parents. Were these kids present in the theatre willingly or reluctantly ? Were they really interested in watching a bengali film in Satyajit Ray ? Whatever... I just felt good to see the next generation present to witness a movie on HIM  😊 And my heart pounded in excitement on seeing Etooo bangali eksathe!

#Jeetukamal, the actor was outstanding as Ray in looks and nuances. The hard work showed. There were times on screen when it was difficult to differentiate between the actor and his muse. As a Ray aficionado there were times when Jeetu's presence on screen gave me quivers and wet eyes. That twelve year old  me on 23 April 1992 resonated from within, "Tomake r dekhte pelam na ami". The screen belonged to Jeetu and I would say Thank you for bringing my God alive on screen. You were that close to perfection.

The screenplay however was extremely loose and lacked substance. Coming from #AnikDutta i guess the audience expected something much better. English used by the actors sounded quite newfangled  and irritating at times.

However, making a film on Ray is in itself a brave move and it could only come from Mr. Anik who eats, sleeps and breathes Ray.  Kudos to him for attempting to make something like this. To show the world the journey of the film maker to create history in world cinema was by itself a thought that needs to be reciprocated with respect.

Hope to see more of #Jeetu in the Ray avatar or maybe a Feluda avatar soon.

Cinematography needs a special mention here. To recreate the Ray moments wasn't a piece of cake for sure. Dedication and passion needs to be at tandem to create such moments.

There was applause both at the start and end of the film... Something which is rare in multiplexes. That reflected the emotions of the audience. They did not come to the theatre to judge a film... They were there to see Him, which I am sure they did.

It took a few moments to gather myself and put  on my motherhood cape once again. The father daughter duo were waiting for me downstairs. They didn't accompany me because AD knew that this is the film I wanted to watch alone, without any disturbance.

As i was rushing out I spotted someone whom I respect a lot. Aniket Mitra was there along with his wife Priyam. To see him in person and exchange pleasantries was a  Bhooter Raja Dilo Bor moment for me. 🙂

'Maharaja tomare selam', was what I mumbled as i stepped out of the theatre. Tumi Aporajito! Tumi robe nirobe hridaye momo... Satyajit Ray 🙏

Photo source: Google 

#satyajitray #cinema #cinephile #aporajito #aparajita #patherpanchali #bibhutibushan #sukumarroy #bengali #bengalifilm #worldcinema #writer #film #review #movies

Why is Mother's Day so special?

The conversation between my six year old and me led to this post. In her sweet, simple way little Biryani expressed the real fact of what makes this day so special for us mothers.

Ma: Achha Biryani tell me what is so special about Mother's Day?

Biryani: Because it gave her (the mother) the child. 

Ma: So what?

Biryani: Because that's what made her ( the mother) the happiest person on Earth naa! 

Indeed, holding you in my shaky arms for the first time, touching you to see if you are for real were moments beyond words or adjectives could describe. Since then life has been tough... There have been times when I lost my cool, I screamt,i cried because motherhood doesn't come with prior experience and certification; it's to be felt and gradually experienced. I have had my moments of complete break down but it was you who brought back the power and strength in me.

 I know how much I wanted to be a mother in spite of those miscarriages that tormented both my body and soul. You didn't come into my life easily but you made every moment worth since your birth. 

I know I am not perfect mother and I don't strive to be one.I am a mother who is more humane and normal. I don't want to show you that life is perfect or your Ma is perfect. Through my imperfections I want you to learn the real facts of life, of dealing with your demons and crisis. You have given me the most happiest moments of my life Biryani... Thank you for choosing me as your mother ❤️ 

#happymothersday #mother #motherdaughter 

The Bollywood Mothers

The Bollywood Mothers

The onscreen mother i could totally relate to as a teenager. Farida Jalal's portrayal of Lajwanti was so real and relatable those days. Mothers who were otherwise shadowed by the patriarchal, strict fathers and oppressive relatives who didn't allow them to voice out their grievances and opinions. The mothers could feel and understand that the  next generation was getting exposed to the modern world, girls had dreams (no not only of getting married to Raj)... Dreams of living life on their own terms, of being able to establish themselves, of breaking the shackles of orthodoxy and dogmas. 

Lajwanti was not just a mother, she was Simran's best friend, confidante. Yet Lajwanti could not raise a voice when required. She asked her daughter to forget her dreams, to conform to the societal norms because that's the way of the world. 

Somewhere Lajwanti herself wanted to break free from the normal... She too had dreams which she wanted to live through her children. Lajwanti does show some spark at the end where she lets her daughter to pursue her dreams. That's when she tells Simran to not give up on her dreams and live life on her own terms (marry Raj in ddlj). 

Farida Jalal played the role intuitively with so much grace and spright. However, just like the society her role was also cut short after a while. Yet Lajwanti made an impact... That's how mothers are... big or small... Their role in our lives plays an important role and help us in shaping our lives. 

#happymothersday #mothersday #mothers #mother #moms #momlife #bollywood #bollywoodmothers #faridajalal #ddlj #dilwaledulhanialejayenge #shahrukhkhan #kajol #lajwanti #yashchopra