The Kashmir Files

 

Watched Gangubai Kathiawadi today on the big screen. Total waste of time and money. Too much of hamming and unnecessary melodrama. The only thing that captured my interest was the dances and the location they showed. The Kamathipura red light area was beautifully portrayed. I was in that area during one of my walks and it was a close representation. The storyline was not engaging enough and the characters were nearly reduced to caricatures due to the over the top acting. I like Alia Bhatt but here she looked too artificial and forced. Ajay Devgn is good but could not save this film. The lone saving grace was Jim Sarb and the television heart throb Shantanu Maheshwari. They were splendid in their short but important roles. Shantanu is really adorable! The luxury cars looked spectacular and the dances were amazingly picturized.

I have nothing against the real life shero who fought against the oppressors and made life more bearable for the prostitutes and challenged the people who exploited their miseries. She was an iron lady who led by action and was admired by one and all for her guts.

I feel the casting was too far-fetched. Aalia Bhatt did not look convincing enough in this role. The story dragged in many places. Probably an actress who is a bit more mature in this field would have done an outstanding job according to me. It's not just about the age as we have seen Anupam Kher shine the brightest in his role of a grieving father in the movie Saraansh. I am talking about maturity in acting that Aalia Bhatt lacked for this particular role. She is undoubtedly an amazing actress otherwise.

My verdict, please give this one a miss. I regret watching this one. I nearly dozed off three times!

Hridayam

 Hridayam is a romantic musical with a twist. It stars Pranav Mohanlal, Darshana Rajendran and Kalyani Priyadarshan who are the parts of the love triangle. All the three leads have a magnetic screen presence and have played their roles superbly. The story begins in the college years where the lovers meet and break up only to meet once again at a turn in life.

The best part of the movie is that this is not just about romance. This is a movie that is inspirational and make us think about our life goals. It is a slice of life movie where we change along with the growing years. Somethings that fascinate us when we are younger may not hold the same charm for us as years progress and we have new priorities in life. Throughout life there are people and instances that change us for better or worse. Life, after all, is all about the experiences we have and the people who impact us. 

This story takes us back and forth in different time zones to tell us the story of the two friends who met in college and broke up only to get back together under different circumstances later on in life. The two female leads are truly gorgeous and have their own charm. The male lead is adorable and all of them do a fantastic job with their honest portrayals. The Secret Alley has a mystery of its own. It is a room where the college students are allowed to go only after they graduate. I loved that concept!

What can I say about the location and the music! The background score and the songs were melodious and peppy. All of them were beautifully picturized. The locations were breath-takingly beautiful as they usually are in these Malayalam films. It was specially spectacular when they follow Arun Neelakandan (Pranav Mohanlal) when he is on his travels with his camera for company. This is a heart-felt film with some touching moments. The storyline is engaging and it moves at a steady pace. This is a good movie that you cannot miss. 

Jhimma

 I love travel. I always dream of travelling to far away places. Travelling makes me look at life differently and it also helps me find myself. There is a line in the movie that says that travelling makes the traveller a new person and I agree whole-heartedly. 

The movie Jhimma is a look at a group of women who travel together with a tour company . It takes us along with them to witness their hits and misses and the way they bond together. It makes for a good movie but with a bit of tweaking it could have become a great movie. It is always fun to put many women together and observe them. 

Each one in the movie has a different character to play and they are on the tour with their respective emotional baggage. There are some lovely moments captured among these new found friends and there are some words of wisdom about life. The star cast is amazing but the movie does not live to the expectations. It is quite abrupt in some places and drags in some. It gave me the feeling that the great star cast was a waste here as they were not well-utilized. Of course, it was nice to see them together, yet there was something lacking. 

The best part for me is the virtual tour we have of London. All the locations are tourist destinations of London and I just could not take my eyes away from the beauty of the locations. This movie gave me new travel goals!

As I said there are some things that could have been handled a bit differently in the movie to make it better. The premise of the movie was good. The movie drags in some parts and we feel they could have shown us something more about the characters. This was an OK one time watch but definitely not worth watching in the theatres. 

A Thursday

 The title of the movie A Thursday does not in any way help us understand what this movie is all about. That is like a plus point here as it makes us wonder right from the start as to what we are going to expect here. As the movie progresses, we are drawn into the plot and the mystery deepens. As viewers we keep making different assumptions and that is what makes this a good suspense drama. This is a good thriller with a great climax that is unexpected. 

There are some loopholes in the story yet the story is riveting enough to keep us engaged. Leaving a bit of hamming by some characters, there are some great acting skills on display here. Yami Gautam, Atul Kulkarni and Dimple Kapadia are amazing and live the characters they play. Yami Gautam is truly an under-rated actress. She plays the role of Naina Jaiswal, an enterprising kindergarten teacher who runs her playschool called Little Dots. 

The story deals with a rather sensitive topic that has been well-handled with just the right amount of drama. Neha Dhupia is a bit over the top as always but Yami is fantastic as one who resorts to some desperate measures to get herself heard. This is a story that has its moments where we feel the shame of living in the society we do where justice does not exist for some. This is a story that needs to be told. A movie that will make you squirm uncomfortably as it asks some questions that are difficult to answer.  This is surely not a movie for entertainment but one that leaves you with some questions in your mind  about the society  or world we live in. We wonder whether there is going to be an end to such instances. 

Hopefully I did not give away too much in the review as the mystery of the movie is its greatest plus point. Do watch this thriller with a twist. 

REPLY 1988

Reply 1988 is a South Korean television series starring Lee Hye-ri, Ryu Jun- Yeol, Park Bo-gum, Go Kyung-pyo and Lee Dong-hwi. The series is heartfelt and the best two words I can use to describe it is pure and relatable. This series is a slice of life and every episode has its wow moments and lessons that enable us to understand the importance of the bonds we share with out=r family, neighbours and friends. 

Beginning in the year 1988, the story revolves around the life of five friends and their families who live in the Ssangmun-dong neighbourhood. This series is truly addictive and each and every character amazes us. The story line is simple and moves form the past to the present effortlessly and we are given a glimpse of the equations the members share with each other and how circumstances lead to the changes in these equations as the story moves along. The story keeps flitting from the past to the present yet it is not at all confusing in any way. There are some amazing scenes between the characters that stay with us long after the series is over. The neighbourhood and the families living there all grow on you and you become a part of their life .

There are so many romantic, swoon worthy moments and also instances that make us understand what really matters in life. We can relate to all the things that happen and even the characters seem so real and lovable. This series has made me fall in love once again with the irresistible Park Bo-gum who charms us with his controlled acting and his role as an amazing Go Game player but a simpleton who is socially awkward. I just cannot take my eyes off him and keep waiting for him to come on to the screen.

Special mention of Lee Hye-ri and all the others for their outstanding acting skills. We become a part of the lives of these friends and their families. We get to learn about the life in the middle and upper class who are in the same neighbourhood. A lot of thought has gone in selecting the cast, location and many little things have been take into account to make this series the blockbuster it is. Even small things like the bedding, furniture, the clothes and the food the eat give us an insight into the life they live. 

This series is inspiring and uplifting. You cannot miss this one for the innocence. This series is all heart. Do watch this one and you can thank me later.

Tinder Swindler

 Netflix is streaming a film Tinder Swindler which is based on a true story about a conman who duped several women on the dating app Tinder. I watched this one out of curiosity as I had not read about this happening.

The movie tells the story of how a man started duping people of their money in different ways right from his teens. His father was a Rabi and although he was caught and was served a prison sentence , he continued with his underhand ways immediately after his release. 

He was a real charmer and many women who right-swiped  were ensnared with his charming personality. He seemed totally genuine to them and they were bowled over by the rich lifestyle he projected. Fast cars, swanky hotels, good food, great night life, branded clothing and accessories and a pleasing personality was what made the ladies swoon. He was able to project that he was an heir to a diamond family and was stinking rich. To top it , he portrayed himself to a romantic who messaged and called often and kept his lady love aware of his whereabouts. He was always on the move, travelling to different countries and cities on business trips. Soon he was under a cash crunch as he had enemies who were going to harm him.

He convinced the ladies that he could not use his credit card and asked them to lend him the cash he needed. He continued taking large amounts of money from all the different ladies and at the same time he was splurging around all that he had. The ladies trusted him completely and some even took loans to pay him under the impression that he was really in a cash crunch and he would repay them eventually.

It was only after a dedicated journalist came into the picture after joining the dots together and identified the Tinder Swindler. With the help of the women he duped , the conman was caught and charges were pressed. It was a tedious procedure to get him caught but he was .Surprisingly, most of the cases were withdrawn due to lack of evidence and he was let loose after just after 5 months in prison! There were a couple of people working with him in this and none of them were caught. 

He is a free man now and he is still on Tinder and living a rich life even now. A well known model is his girlfriend and he is still on social media splurging money on cars, tours, restaurants and branded clothes. Life goes on as usual for him but for the women he cheated it is a terrible realization. They are still struggling to pay the debts they had taken for their con man lover.

When this case caught the headlines many blamed the women for being gullible fools and too trusting. They were blamed for being lured due to his riches. In their interviews it is clear that everyone is looking for love. A romantic man who was well off and also who had a charming personality and who cared for them were a real catch and too good to be true. They thought they had hit the jackpot with him as such men were hard to find. It is a shame that such conmen roam around freely after causing so much despair to so many women for all these years and the worst part is that there are still women who are crazy about him! After just a brief stint in jail, the 31 year old bogus billionaire Simon Leviev is back living the high life and even runs seminars for wannabe entrepreneurs costing £250 a head. Unbelievable isn't it! He still denies being a fraudster and tries to convince one and all that the women who are fighting the case against him are all just trying to make life hell for him for no reason. 

My Love from the Star

My Love from the Star is a romantic fantasy that stars  Jun Ji-hun, Kim Soo-hyun, Park Hae-jin, Yoo In-na, Shin Sung-rok and Ahn Jae- hyun. It follows the life of an extra -terrestrial alien who lands on Earth and falls in love with a famous actress. What is it that binds these two together, how they keep meeting each other  and what are the challenges they come across forms the crux of the story. This series has garnered great interest and has won many accolades.

Do Min-joon (Kim Soo-hyun) is amazing as the alien who landed on Earth during the Joseon Dynasty and who falls in love with an actress, Song -yi after living on Earth for 400 years. After every decade he is forced to take on another role on Earth. He has a near-perfect human appearance, enhanced physical abilities involving his vision, hearing and speed. He lights up the screen with his presence and has a calm and controlled demeanor. Cheon Song-yi (Jun Ji-hyun) and Do Min-joon keep meeting under mysterious circumstances and they develop a bond with each other just when Do Min-joon is three months away from leaving the Earth. Min-joon and Song-yi eventually fall in love; Min-joon aims to leave Earth without being emotionally attached so he tries to avoid her but fails. 

There are many other characters that are gradually introduces into the story and they play an important role in how the relationship between the lead pair develops. After being a much-sought after actress, there comes a time when Song-yi is rejected by everyone due to an incident that involves her. This is when the story takes a different turn and becomes thrilling. It is engaging to see how Min-joon tries to save Song-yi and the climax leads to that. All the characters are well-sketched and the series moves ahead at a steady pace. I am a fan of the male lead, Kim Soo-hyun who is one of the highest paid actors in South Korea. He was there in the series 'It's OK not to be OK' and I have become a great fan since then. 

Our Beloved Summer

 This series 'Our Beloved Summer' has my heart. The lead pair share amazing chemistry and the story line is really interesting and unpredictable. This is not just about the lead pair, we also get to see the involvement of the others around them with respect to the bond they share. Their family and friends and the circumstances leading to where they stand at present play an important role in the way the story progresses.

To tell you the truth, in the beginning I thought that this is probably an over hyped series and just wanted to watch a few episodes and find out whether it is really that great. I was pleasantly surprised as this series is full of heart. They have shown so many emotions and the viewer is kept guessing as to what happens next.

We feel for the characters and want to root for them. The lead pair and the others have shown controlled acting and there is no way they can be faulted. The houses shown, the lanes, the offices and the other locations are all so apt that we get totally involved in the story and feel we are a part of it.

Another exceptional thing about this series are the amazing songs and the background music. I just cannot have enough of The Christmas Tree song V of BTS. What a soulful rendition of the song! I keep listening to it and it has such a romantic feel to it that it makes my heart flutter. All the other songs are also good but it is a pity that the lyrics of the Korean songs are not written in the subtitles so it is not possible to understand or feel the emotions they portray.

This series is promoted as a romantic comedy and it stars Choi Woo-shik, Kim Da-mi, Kim Sung-Choel and Ron Jeong-eui. This series is about a documentary shot of two high school students and it follows their life when they grow older too to find how they have changed. They are a lot of make ups and break ups and also love and heart break among the characters. It is interesting to see the characters develop as the episodes move forward. I have got addicted to this series. It has 16 episodes in all and after watching it I am already missing these two lovers. I am glad it had a 'Happy Ever After' ending to this series. Choi Woo-shik (Choi Ung) is simply adorable and we just can't stop loving him. Even Kim D-Mi (Kook Yeong-Soo) does an excellent job as a realistic PR expert who is fiercely independent and does not allow her feelings to be seen by others. Kim Sung-Choel as Kim Ji-Ung also steals the show with his amazing and effortless acting skills. He is the silent admirer of Kook Yeong-Soo and he loves her but cannot show it as his best friend loves her too. Thankfully, he too gets his romantic partner towards the end.

Do watch this beautiful romantic series that will bring a smile on your face and also make you cry with them. Some really amazing moments captured in the episodes. Do listen to the Christmas Tree song by V from BTS. This series is a must watch as it has some really emotional and romantic scenes. We wish we had such a romance in our lives watching it.

Train to Pakistan

Book Review

Title- Train to Pakistan

Author- Khushwant Singh

Genre- Historical Novel

I read this book during the Republic Day fortnight and I was truly impressed with the storyline and style. This was the first book I read by Khushwant Singh and I still get goosebumps when I remember some of the scenes depicted in the book. The storyline is drawn from the horrors of the partition so the brutality of it all hits hard. It is a gripping book right from the start to the end. The descriptions of the village and the inhabitants of Mano Majra is vivid and makes us become a part of their story. 

The Sikhs  and Muslims of Mano Majra are torn due to the changing circumstances that took place in the country in the year 1947. How the equation between the inhabitants and also the nearby villages change gradually forms the crux of the story. Who is right  and who are the wronged is difficult to decipher. Though not everyone is thirsting for blood, there are many who want to sit on the fence and save themselves instead of taking action to stop the wrongdoing. 

The characters in the story are well defined and the story moves forward at a steady pace. Our curiosity is piqued as we wonder about the turn of events. The climax is the scene stealer. There are some scenes that give us goosebumps and we can actually picturize the horror penned. It is painful to realize that this similar events took place in the country and they are a dark part of History that cannot be forgotten. The pain and the struggles people went through during those times is unfathomable and this book relives that dark side of our freedom struggle. 

This is a must read for all those who would like to walk through the pages of history and relive the horrors of the partition. After reading the book we realize that even after what happened in history we have not learnt our lessons. We still keep fighting out own brothers under different pretexts and there is still disharmony around. This book makes us wonder whether there will ever be hope for peace to reign in our country. This book leaves us with many uncomfortable questions in our minds and for some it will be difficult to erase the scenes of the horrors of partition that were vividly described in the book.

The Travelling Cat Chronicles

Title- The Travelling Cat Chronicles

Author- Hiro Arikawa

Translated from the Japanese by - Philip Gabriel

Genre- Fiction

The Travelling Cat Chronicles is a best seller and has also been made into a live action Japanese film. This was my first read for this year and I am glad I chose this one. I am a lover of travel and I carried this book along on my tour to the North-east. I cannot express how blissful it was to sit by the gurgling riverside and read this with the mountains behind me. This book brought a smile on my face at the very beginning when I was introduced to Nana the cat. It is amazing how the cat carries the story forward and tells us about his wonderful escapades with his master Satoru.

The book gives us a glimpse into the life of Satoru and his cat Nana and Satoru's childhood friends. It is a look at the travels and explorations of the master and his cat as they move from place to place and as they do that we the readers are delighted with the beauty of the places they visit and we are acquainted with the people they meet. The description of the places is such that we are literally transported there. The cat Nana tells us about his meeting with different animals and people in an interesting manner we feel it is the most normal thing a cat can do.

Though the book is written in simple language it gives us a deep insight about the life of Satoru and the other characters in the book. We meet his childhood friends and learn how their friendship developed. We learn about the bond he shares with them and his cats Nana and Hachi. The cat Nana also makes us delve deep into the thought processes of a cat. How Nana feels about Satoru's friends and family is revealed to us. The storyline is engaging and we cannot help feeling in love with the loyal Nana and we learn to appreciate Satoru's mission to find the right house for Nana.

'The Travelling Cat Chronicles' is a must read for lovers of animals and travel enthusiasts. It takes us on an interesting journey that explores people and places in a unique and simplistic manner. This is a story about loyalty , gratitude and friendship. This story about a stray cat who becomes family really tugs at your heartstrings. 

This is story that is full of heart. There are so many beautiful moments in it. I was surprised to see my tears flow as I neared the end of the book, the climax is an emotional one. It is not only the story but also the cover page of the book that catches your attention. As a reader we would expect the cat on the cover page to resemble Nana the cat in the story but it is an original brush painting entitled ' Man and the World' which is painted by Shuai Liu, a Chinese painter with cerebral palsy whose work is supported by Chilture.com, a studio of disabled artists. Learning about the artist of the cover page was another plus for me  about this book. 

I am glad this was my first read for this year. I too would like to learn to express my gratitude towards people I meet and those who touch my life and appreciate the good things life has to offer instead of focussing only on the the challenges I face. Life is really beautiful if we find the time to look at the beauty around us- the beauty in the places and the people around us. Waiting eagerly to watch the Japanese movie of the same name as the trailor looks really interesting. 

#sunitareads2022

Itaewon Class

 I am just completed binge watching the Korean drama series Itaewon Class and I was blown away!

I am a huge fan of the male and female leads - Park Seo-joon, Kim Da-mi and Kwon Nara.

Park Bo Gum has a small role in it as a handsome chef but he is only seen in the climax of episode 16, so though I was tempted I didn't watch that episode first. He is a treat to our eyes!

There are some amazing moments captured in the episodes that encourage us to follow our dreams and have firm belief in ourselves.

The series is all about finding your strengths and facing any challenges that come your way as you pursue your goal. It is about finding our strengths and not showing other to determine what you can or cannot do.

I must add that I am in love with the lead Park Seo Joon and he has proved, time and again, that he is an outstanding actor. He emoted really well and he is not just a romantic lead who can make us swoon with his good looks, great body and kissing scenes. He portrays the character of Park Seroeyi amazingly well.

There is a poem in episode 12. It a beautiful one about finding ones inherent strength and accepting yourself for who you are. We don't need the approval of others, we need to understand that especially when we have people put to ridicule us and treat us a worthless. This poem is for all of us. It us an affirmation we all need in trying times, I am diamond.

Yes, say this aloud......

Love Alarm

Everyone needs to be loved. We all have that special someone who makes our heart flutter. What is better than having the person that we love love us back with the same intensity or more!

What if there was a mobile app that helped you find that special someone for you. What if there was someone who rings your love alarm and you ring it back? These are the possibilities that have been explored in the series 'Love Alarm'.

'Love Alarm' is an amazing Korean Drama series about love and it has been well scripted. It is an adaptation of a famous Daum webtoon. It stars Kim So-Hyun, Jung Ga-rum and Song Kang. It follows the life of a high school girl who like many others is highly influenced by a new mobile love app that notifies us of someone in the vicinity having romantic feelings for you. 

It is a love triangle with a difference because it also takes into consideration all the trials and tribulations that the lead protagonists have gone through. It gives us a glimpse into their lives and the circumstances that lead to the decisions they make. The series is in two short seasons and all the episodes are engaging. There is a lot of romance, emotion and it comes with a slice of life.

The lead characters are endearing and we slowly become a part of their lives. We see them make up and break up and pine for each other. We see the confusion they have when they have to make choices. The songs and music score is soothing and impactful. The two male leads are charming and they make our hearts skip a few beats. Song Kang is a treat to our eyes, his visuals are alluring and mesmerizing to say the least. 

This series is very good but not mind-boggling great. There are many other Korean series that can be watched before you come to this one. Of course, it goes without saying that this series was very impactful for its viewers as the premise of the series was particularly close to their hearts. The acting of each and every character was spot on and gave us no reasons to complain. I watched this one just for Song Kang who was the lead in 'Nevertheless' and I missed him badly. Keep this one in your to be watched list for sure. There are also some rumors of a season three for this season, let's wait and watch.

83

 

Leharaa do!!!

Watched the movie 83 today and I was literally bowled over!!!

In other words, I was clean bowled!

This movie gave me a taste of our past glory and let me revive the memories of that amazing World Cup that I watched with enthusiasm as a kid. It was like a festival then, the thrill and excitement on our win was remarkable to say the least. Everyone was glued to their television sets or radio sets back then as we watched history being created.

The Indian team was nothing but the underdog and we did the unthinkable then. The patriotic fervor was sky high and we could feel the josh in every player. Kapil Dev and Mohinder Amarnath were my favourites then. We knew all the players so well that we imitated their peculiar styles. Watching this movie made me nostalgic. This was the first movie I watched in the theatre after the pandemic. The movie hall had just a few patrons and I was masked all through the movie. I had to watch this on the big screen and I am glad I did.

This movie made me cry, laugh, cheer and clap and scream. It gave me goosebumps and made my heart flutter when I saw Kapil Dev and Mohinder Amarnath, my cricket idols. We all know the story but still I felt thrilled and excited. Seeing the tricolour and hearing all the songs made my heart race with pride.

I am full of admiration for Kabir Khan for taking up this mammoth task of recreating such an iconic moment in Indian history. He really did a great job. What a task it must have been to bring forth the same emotions and do the right casting for each of the characters portrayed! The scenes were realistic and the background score and the songs were amazing. This movie struck a chord and touched my heart. I was transported to 1983 even as the world was in the clutches of the Corona pandemic. This movie made me so emotional. My mask was wet with my tears and my glasses got foggy. I could not wait to share my views of the movie and discuss it with my husband who had watched it earlier. I felt I had witnessed the match in a stadium. After watching so many movies and series on television and my laptop since the pandemic, this was really a treat for my eyes.

I am not a fan of Ranveer Singh but I must say he was superb as Kapil Dev. Each of the others in the Indian team and even the West Indies team were so apt for their roles. Special mention of Vivian Richards and Clive Lloyds too. I don't think it was necessary to bring in Deepika Padukone for this movie. Maybe they just wanted to come together after their wedding for this movie.

I must add that this movie will have a different influence on those who have actually watched this match in the year 1983 as compared to those who were not born at that time. The younger generation may not feel the same nostalgia that we do after watching this movie so they may not find it that impactful. There are some really wonderful moments captured in the movie and it has a nice in it when the movie jumps from one timeline to the next when it tries to show us the comparisons between what it was actually in the year 1983. We see visuals of the real 1983 heroes on the screen and we are filled with awe.

This movie was a spectacular experience for me, maybe more so as it was my first movie in a movie theatre after nearly two years. After all the many movies and series I have been watching at home, this came as a great refreshing experience. I urge you to watch this movie without fail and relive that momentous World Cup win. Trust me, it will surely bowl you over!