INDIA'S DAUGHTER - A DOCUMENTARY REVIEW

I got to watch the rather controversial documentary India’s Daughter which has been banned in our country. The documentary is based on the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder of a physiotherapy student.

Having watched it, I can sum it up in short sentences

1.That the documentary was not one sided, rather quite wholesome in its approach. It was not just about the rapist and the victim. Every other aspect and people that mattered was touched upon in the one hour that it lasted.

2.That it passed no judgments and left it to us, viewers, how we perceive it.

3.That it is a must watch.

I could not really understand why it was banned here so I read up on the articles, comments, spoke to people and I got some really petty (in my opinion) responses:

“How could they allow a foreigner to make such a movie”? (I suppose an Indian who made the same thing makes things better and the issue more soothing?)

“I believe they paid the rapist Rs. 40,000 to do the interview” (why would he or any criminal agree to do an interview on what happened without some vested interest and how else can one get the first hand information?)

“I can’t believe they did the interview and he wasn’t even wearing his prison uniform” (I suppose a change of clothes, say maybe a suit, would also change the way he thinks!!)

And so on it went.

And through all this, there was one emotion that dominated everything - Anger.

Anger against the ban. Anger after watching the documentary (those who managed to). Anger on the regressive attitudes of some in the film. Anger about this and that or the other related to the documentary.

So let’s talk about anger.

"Anybody can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way - that is not easy."- Aristotle.

After watching the documentary:

Let us get angry that basic Education is still a luxury for many people.

Let us get angry that despite growing economically in leaps and bounds, there are people still living in the most deplorable conditions.

Let us get angry that people who we are supposed to turn to for justice, the lawyers, speak without filters in their brain.

Let us get angry that the people in authority are most comfortable to brush critical issues under the carpet.

Let us get angry about alcohol abuse and the consequences.

Let us get angry about the lack of focus on what is important to bring about positive change.

Anger is not at all a negative emotion.

Used wisely, anger leads to action. After all it was anger that united people against the atrocious crime. Anger that woke up the sleepy government to act. Anger that brought about amendments in the law related to rape. Anger that said enough is enough.

Let us get angry and let us direct our anger where it is needed the most.

ABHINETRI REVIEW - THE TRAGEDY OF A LEGEND (2015)

Abhinetri is a Kannada movie released recently. The story is based on the late actress Kalpana’s life story. Pooja Gandhi plays the lead role. She was average. The other actors were average. The Props were average. The story line was average. The film overall was average. The reviews were average. That’s about it where the movie is concerned. Here’s my take on why it could have been better.

Let’s talk about Legends for a minute. You’ll find that most and I say most, not all, have a pattern.

1. Born in a poor family, struggling for a living.

2. Have a passion and talent that is unique and will do anything to fulfill it.

3. Crawl their way to the top. Some get exploited in the process.

4. Become super famous and get used to a certain lifestyle.

5. Develop big time attitudes stemming from insecurities from the past and fear of losing what they already have.

6.# 5 above ultimately leads to their downfall – mostly self created. They suffer humiliation, loneliness, take to substance abuse, self harm and die.

Had the movie centered around what fame does to a person as a theme and revolved around a random story, the movie probably would have worked. Movies as this have been made

Down – Rise-Peak-Fall pattern and there is a lesson in it every time.

The pattern dint vary in this movie either.

BUT we are talking about Kalpana – Kannada’s Minugu Thaare (Shining Star) who’s acting is par excellence. Whose Iconic songs are played over and over again even to this day, and some of the scenes from her movies are truly unforgettable.

I tried to be open minded about it. It does take guts to pull off a role representing the late actress. I know it is unfair to compare. These are two different individuals.

BUT we are talking about Kalpana.

Having watching Sharapanjara (played by Kalpana) a few days before watching Abhinetri one can take lessons on to portray pain. And in this movie, watching songs like Tam nam, Tam nam modernized, replicating Sharapanjara’s climax scene even as part of the movie made me wish for one thing throughout as I sat seated in the theatre :

LEGENDS ARE BETTER LEFT ALONE!!

And that says it all.

PRODUCT REVIEW: AVON'S RED ROSE AND PEACH SHOWER GEL

Ratings for reviews:

1 – No! No! No!
2- Just about average.
3 –Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!!
5 – Yes! Yes! Yes! And I’ll tell all about it.

I am on a mission. I am looking for that perfect fresh ‘just after bath’ scent that a product can give and one that lasts. There is nothing like just stepping out of a bath and dressing up, smelling heavenly and where the people around you notice too!!

I have that indescribable dream scent that I want to own, one that makes me smell heavenly throughout the day, not a perfume but a shower gel or soap. I have tried loads of shower gels in the market but none that has met my standards.

Avon’s Red Rose and Peach shower gel.

The first thing that caught my eye was “Instant Freshness.”

Then the drool worthy description: “Indulge in the sultry fragrance of romantic red rose petals kissed by luscious peaches and delectable plums. This moisturizing shower gel leaves skin cleansed and conditioned”

My experience with the product:

The up side is I liked the packaging with its images of roses and peach (see pic). My skin did feel cleansed and soft. The fragrance is mild and definitely makes you go mmmm!!

The down side is that is how I would like to keep smelling for at least a few hours, if not the whole day and the fragrance doesn’t last. Not even for a reasonable while say an hour or so. So if you are looking for a nice shower gel that smells good and leaves you feeling clean, then this is it.

Me? As I mentioned before I am still hunting for the elusive dream scent that lasts and lasts!

Product rating: 3 out of 5.

I have recently taken up paper quilling. This is amongst my many other hobbies ranging from embroidery to drumming sessions. It began an interest to learn a new art. I also started making my own jewelry to kill time.

At first I started out not feeling much other than creating something to show off to my friends after all it is a great feeling when someone compliments and says nice earrings and I can smugly say I made it myself!!:)

Over time I began to feel changes in myself. It was more than pride in the finished product. I began to feel

Less stressed.

Less anxious

Elevated mood

“Healed.”

Improved concentration.

Less dwelling on petty things.

Energized.

Deal with people better post any such creation.

Content (A very powerful feeling).

Spiritual.

This made me want to read up and discover more about why working with hands can be one to the ways to calm yourself inside out.

I did read up that creating or tending things by hand enhances mental health and makes us happy (full article here http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-creativity-cure/201205/creativity-happiness-and-your-own-two-hands).

The article is bang on especially when it mentions about altering the inner life through creating something. I absolutely love this “Take it out of your mind, through your hand and into the world.”

I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t experienced it myself.

Attaching my “creations” as photos and currently this is how I am getting my “high.” :)

I recently went to watch Kasturi Nivasa the famous 40 year old Black and White Kannada movie in the theater again and this time in color. What I felt sitting in the theater was something i cannot describe in words. All i can say is i can do with one such movie every month and I can live on that high for the rest of the month! I wanted to write an elaborate review. Then I realized that if I did that, it would run into pages. That is the power of the movie. So I challenged myself to strictly write just one word which to me best describes the different categories in the movie. So here we go!

The Actresses – Ageless

The Acting – Effortless

The props –Measureless

The story - Fadeless

The Songs – Deathless

The Humor - Flawless

The dialogues - Timeless

Dr. RajKumar – Words fail me! And only a true Kannadiga would understand:)

I miss Roald Dahl.

I feel some people especially some authors shouldn’t leave this world and continue writing and we can continue to read their awesome work and continue to be enthralled.

No one till date has ever come close to Dahl’s kind of writing or so I thought. While I have no intentions to compare his books to that of any other author, Horrid High by Payal Kapadia comes close.

There are bad schools. There are Rotten schools. And then there is Horrid High. Think of all things rotten about a school. In fact if each one of us put our nightmare school from our minds into words, Horrid High it is…complete with horrid teachers, grossly delightful descriptions, quirky characters, unpredictable twists and turns …the book was un-put-down-able. :) I so love this author!!

What kind of Kids would one find in Horrid High? Well…kids with special powers, born to unbelievable parents, resilient kids who come out tops against the worst conditions.

What kind of faculty would one find in Horrid High? Completely Bonkers! Though they consider themselves normal with a misplaced arrogance that only teachers who are bonkers have.

Teachers - who loathe kids and set out devious ways to make their life and the whole learning process as miserable as they can. Teachers, who can only be described as living nightmares. Throw in a cook who is really vile with her even viler cooking. I must say I lost my appetite for a while when reading the descriptions of what she dishes out to the students:)

Who is the good egg here? Who is the savior of them all? Who is all that a teacher should be? Well…read the book and I hope you feel as lucky as I did and experience the “high” that only good reads can give.

I thought of writing a detailed book review on this book but words failed me. So here is my “review” about the book:

“I wish it had never ended.”

:)

What Safety means to me in my city – Bangalore.

To catch a late night movie, a play, a concert and never have to worry about how I am going to get back home.

To not have a male “chaperone” to accompany me should I decide to go to a concert or outskirts of my city.

To walk in parks at leisure, anytime and take in the sights and smells rather than worry if there are any perverts lurking about.


To walk confidently in crowded areas and not always be on high alert for fear of being groped.

To wear what I like and not be judged and stared at.


To never hear the words “she asked for it” or “nice girls don’t….” from anyone.

To be able to smile in friendly way at a guy at a mall, the bank or anywhere – just from one human to another and not have it misinterpreted as a “come on.”


To be able to get on public transport – autos/buses/metro any time morning or night and feel one hundred percent secure in doing so.

To not carry an increasing supply of weapons – pepper spray/knives/scissors instead just fill my purse with the usual girlie stuff like I once used to.


Most importantly, to wake up and not read/hear about yet another atrocity committed against women every single day and instead, the opposite would make my day!!!