A Bird on My Windowsill

 Book Review- A Bird on My Windowsill

Author- Manav Kaul

Translated by- Nandini Kumar Nickerson

Cover design- Shadab Khan

First things first. The cover page of the book caught my eye and actually made me want to dig deep into the mind of the author. The author writes in his simplistic yet charming style, about the experiences he came across and also about his dreams and at times there is an over-lapping of the real with the unreal. Manav Kaul , who is an established actor shows the facet of him as a person who has a way with words. His poetry and prose entices the reader and our thoughts linger on the pages wanting to understand the  mind of the writer and how he sees things. 

This is the first time I am reading his work and it was truly impressive! In fact, this book inspires me to write about my memorable experiences. This book is not a story but a collection of anecdotes and thoughts that flow in the author's mind. The written words are heartfelt and have a touch of nostalgia to them. We connect with the experiences and it gives us a better understanding of what the author, actor, director Manav Kaul is all about. 

Manav Kaul's books are written in Hindi yet the book was well translated and has kept the essence of the beauty of his writing intact. I am sure that the book will be much better in the original because all said and done, the regional language has its own endearing charm that cannot be wholly felt in a translated version. My advice is that if you read books in Hindi, do go for the original Hindi version of the book. Other bestsellers from Manav Kaul are ' Theek Tumhaare Peeche'  (Right Behind You) and ' Prem Kabootar' (Love Pigeon) How interesting these titles sound, right?

There are so many lovely poetic verses and lines all through these pages that we feel comforted and tranquil. The author speaks of solitude, friendship, love and many other feelings that he comes across and the reader becomes one with his thoughts and aspirations. We too take a journey through his life and at the same time also delve into our lives that has met similar situations. In the end , all our lives are not so different yet so different from each others. This book is like a breath of fresh air that blows after a really hot and sunny day giving us respite from our mundane lives and making us feel the beauty of the life in all its hues. This book is a keepsake and we can keep going back to this one for solace and to feel the beauty of words. 

I Want to Die but I Want to Eat TTeokbokki

 Book Review- I Want to Die but I Want to Eat TTeokbokki

Author- Baek Sehee (Korean)

Translated by- Anton Hur

Picked this book online as I read so many great reviews about it that I was tempted. It is a huge best-seller in Korea. This book is a close look at a persons fight against depression. This book is a part memoir and part self help book where the author has shared some of her most vulnerable moments with her readers. 

@thenovelconversation states and I quote ' For those of us who can relate to the unassuming , persistent, spread-out weight of sadness that doesn't quite feel worthy of the title 'depression' this is THE book '

So this book is a collection of conversations of the author with her psychiatrist and throughout the pages inside we can see how she relates her experiences and feelings to her psychiatrist. I truly tried my best to read the book with an open mind although the first few pages itself left me disappointed. I am not against self help books but this one really did not strike a chord and I felt no emotion as I read chapter after chapter highlighting the ups and downs in the protagonist's life. I must add that after a few conversations . the author summed up those emotions in an interesting manner, that part was in fact, according to me the best parts of the book.

There are so many home truths that are shared about the author and the challenges she faced on day-to- day basis. I did not find the conversations interesting and they made me long to stop reading the whole book as when I browsed through the rest of the pages(something that I rarely do) I saw that it continued in the same vein. I think I did not connect because I may not be going through similar situations in life and perhaps a person facing similar issues may feel more connected and like the book. 

For me , it was a below average read but that is just my frank opinion. But I must say that it takes courage to lay bare all your insecurities before readers in the hope that these conversations may help  those facing similar challenges. Many of the issues she has dealt with are the common ones that each of us face so there are chances that many facing crisis in life may be able to relate and it will help them overcome their issues. At the end there is a recipe for how one should have their tteokbokki. 

Frankly speaking, I am a huge fan of Korean Dramas, so when I came across the reviews about this Korean best seller , I was keen to read this one thinking it would give me that touch of Korean life. Unfortunately, that was not to be. 

The Midnight Library

 Book Review- The Midnight Library

Author- Matt Haig

Genre- Fiction

Last year I asked my Secret Santa from my book reading  group to send me a book written by Matt Haig and I was pleasantly surprised to receive not one, but two novels by this author. Just the tag line on the cover 'One Library. Infinite Lives' was enough to infuse me with a kind of urgency to read this one. I had read many positive reviews about this one and wanted to find out for myself if it lived up to all that hype. I read this book at a slow pace and took in every detail. This is a book that actually blew my mind. It is astounding in so many ways. Thank you my Secret Santa for this wonderful gift!  

The Midnight Library is insightful in a way whereby we actually scrutinize our own lives and wonder what we would do differently in our like like the protagonist Nora Seed. Right at the beginning, the reader is aware that this book will be a roller-coaster of emotions. It is about life between life and death. It is all about our choices and the regrets we have after making those choices. Nora Seed goes through depression and hurt throughout her life and finally decides to end her life. When she finds herself in between life and death, she finds herself in a library that allows her to chose different lives that she could have led if she had made different choices. This forms the premise of the novel.

As we move ahead, Nora explores different lives and sees herself realizing that  in every life she finds something amiss. You just cannot have a perfect life for yourself as desired. She experiences so many changes in her mind as she goes through different lives that she understands that the best life you can live is the one you are actually living. What you make of your life is up to you.

This book talks about depression, life goals, persistence and grit. It also has a way of connecting our lives with that of Nora Seed and questioning our lives. 

What is that we regret? 

What would we do differently if given a chance?

Would our decisions make our life story different than the one at present?

More than anything, there are some true gems that are strewn all though the pages. They make us sit up and take notice of something that we failed to notice. All through our lives we fail to take notice of the important things and focus on perfection. We fail to realize that life is not all black and white, we have to accommodate the greys and accept things that are beyond our control. In spite of all the insights we get while reading this book, let me make it clear that this novel is not preachy in any way. All it does is make you think. The what if scenarios keep popping up and we connect with the protagonist all along as if we are soul mates sailing in the same boat. This story is like a slice of life and it has the potential to put a mirror to our lives too. It gives us a realization of where we stand in life and how we have made good and not so good choices that have shaped our lives. This book is an inspirational read.

There are many lines that are worth a mention here, but I am just going to state a few lines that have stayed with me long after completing the novel. 'The paradox of volcanoes was that they were symbols of destruction but also life. Once the lava slows and cools, it solidifies and breaks down over time to become soil- rich, fertile soil. She wasn't a black hole ,she decided. She was a volcano.'

Here are some other thought-provoking lines from the book.

My verdict- This is a must read!

Birthday Celebrations!

 Small treats like these.....

I had a slice of black forest cake from Monginis after such a long time.

Still remember the days when our (building friends') birthdays were celebrated with a cream cake from Monginis , potato wafers, samosa or batata wada and rasna. We were happy with that too and we were not given any choices. We decorated a single wall with festoons and balloons and clicked group pictures in front of it. We just invited our building friends. We enjoyed the little party and were thrilled with whatever gifts we got. The return gift was not mandatory and if given, it was something common like a  pencil box, plastic water bottle or tiffin box.

In my house we never celebrated birthdays like this. My amma just prepared something special for all of us. We didn't have birthday parties at all. It was a new concept for us. Later when we had kids we celebrated our kids birthdays on a small scale as mentioned above.

Nowadays little kids have themed parties at rented halls or at McDonalds or Pizza Hut. They dress up according to the theme decided. Birthday cards are distributed. They also have takeaway gifts that are customised. Selected school friends are invited and it is a huge affair. Parents go all out to compete with each other to have a grand party. Some have movie screenings, magic shows and game hosts to conduct the party. The sad part is they keep comparing each other's parties and feel let down when others give away more expensive takeaway gifts. They also make fun of gifts that are not expensive enough according to them.  In the end it is just a competition among parents to show who has more money power. 

In the end, it  is all the choices we make. Time is changing after all. Trends keep changing too.

The Kashmir Files

 

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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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!

Fight for My Way

 Fight My Way is directed by Lee Na Jeong ( of Oh My Venus fame) Park Seo Joon and Kim Ji Won star in a drama that shows even a life without money and success can be beautiful, you just have to fight for it. This series is about four childhood friends who are aiming to make it big in life but are not finding their foot hold in doing so. How they try to fight against all odds to achieve what they set out to achieve forms the crux of the storyline.

This series will make the girls and ladies swoon as Park Seo Joon as Ko Dong Man is a totally adorable hunk. He takes off his shirt many times thankfully and makes our heart flutter with his innocent ways. Kim Ji Won  as Choi Ae Ra is a good choice as his trusted friend who is always there to root for him.

The story lines moves often to their childhood which tells us of the bond they shared as kids. For 20 years they stay next to each other and only then find out about the true feelings they have for each other. The life of these four friends is engaging and there is not a dull moment anywhere in the series. There is humour, emotion and romance in good measure. This is an entertaining watch and at the same time it tells us about how we can achieve what we want to if we really try.

This is a must watch for all K-Drama fans out there. It is so addictive that I just could not stop binge-watching the episodes.

Weight-lifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

 I loved this season of the series. I started watching this as I had seen the male lead in another series and found him cute. Yes, he was cute but the female lead completely bowled me over. She is fantastic!

This series follows the life of athletes who are aspiring to win accolades for themselves and their country. We see them train hard and meet different challenges that come their way. Kim Bok Joo is a weight-lifter and we see her find love in the arms of a national level swimmer at the academy where they train together with other athletes. This series has so many warm and fuzzy moments about family, friends and love that you can't stop watching it.

Kim Bok Joo is simply adorable and has a range of emotions that portray her lovable personality. This series is a slice of life as it takes us through the ups and downs each one faces and the different ways in which we try to overcome the challenges we meet in life.

This is a must watch series. It has my heart.

The lead pair is outstanding.

Kurup

 A Dulquer Salman film after a long time.

Dulquer Salman never disappoints.

What a roller coaster of a movie!

It is a thriller with many twists and turns. The story line is engaging and keeps moving across timelines. So from the present we move to the past and then back to the past. The when, how and why is shown gradually so we keep guessing. There are some beautiful locations shown. It is a treat to see some of the iconic places in Mumbai. Dulquer Salman shines in the role of a conman who aspires to make money by hook or crook. He effortlessly disguises himself and tries to keep himself from being caught by the authorities. The climax points towards a sequel for the movie too.

I could not help seeing some shades of 'Catch me if you Can' and 'Dhoom 3' in this movie. This movie is a thriller that is fast paced and it is all about daring escapes and strategies.

A good watch for Dulquer Salman fans.

'There is no beast more cruel than man.' - Leonid Andreyev

Mare of Eastown

 An engaging and interesting series with many twists and turns. Characters are all well sketched out and they do an amazing job. Kate Winslet is amazing and she carries the series completely on her shoulders. She emotes well and lives her character flawlessly. There is a lot of mystery that becomes more complicated as we move further with each episode. Something new keeps happening to arouse our interest.

I had watched the first episode a few months back and thought it was not worth a watch. I am glad I started watching this series again, it shows that sometimes we need to have patience and not jump to conclusions, especially when it is about mystery series like these. I started watching this one again after reading some excellent reviews about it.

Do watch this thrilling series streaming on Disney Hotstar.

House of Secrets

 House of Secrets is a limited series about The Burari Deaths that took place in Delhi and left the whole of India stunned.

This Netflix documentary will leave everyone watching it feel the chills and make one feel extremely perplexed and uncomfortable. It is hard to imagine that this really happened in these circumstances. It is a difficult watch and we cannot help feeling that this is all a figment of someone's wild imagination.

Three generations of family members living together in a joint family found dead one morning. What could be the cause of their deaths, was it suicide or a planned murder?

The series which is in three episodes, stays with us and we have so many questions unanswered. From the youngest to the oldest member in the family, nothing seemed out of place to everyone around them. The neighbours, the friends and their relatives had no clue as to what was happening behind those closed doors. In fact they had just celebrated the engagement of one of the girls in that family with great joy and fervour. A few days later they end up lifeless.The story is shocking and undeniably gruesome.

This one is a difficult watch so stay away if you are weak hearted. Do understand that this series is really depressing and painful to watch. But this is something that needs to be discussed and understood. The circumstances need to be seen and should serve as insights so that similar things don't happen. This short series is streaming on Netflix and I remember reading about this story hitting the headlines. The mystery is solved yet there are so many questions left unanswered.

Start Up!

 Start Up is an amazing drama series that is highly entertaining. It has drama, humour and romance in good measure. Some great insights on what a start up is all about. This is also about friendship and family. I am hooked to this one although I was hesitant to start watching this one due to the title. Once I started with the first episode there is no looking back. I

This series is all about being inspired and following your goals. They also depict the bond shared by the main characters and how their life is shaped by the bonds they share. love the character sketches and the story line. The acting is top class. Never a dull moment here! Please watch this one without fail. You won't be disappointed. I found the lead pair to have amazing chemistry and they are simple adorable. They light up the screen with their presence. This series is all heart and cannot be missed!

Streaming on Netflix, where else!