Woman On Top!

Films.....how we love them!
We watch films and forget them.There are ,but a few films that really make a permanent place in our minds and hearts.Who can forget films like Sholay,Maine Pyaar Kiya,Khamoshi,Pyaasa,Quyamat Se QuyamatTak,Saagar,Ek Duje Ke Liye,Khilona and Dilwale Dulhaniya le Jayenge?

But all said and done, there are only a few women-oriented films that touch your heart-strings and make you really sit up and take notice.Earlier a Rekha could carry a film on her  shoulders like she did in the films Khoobsoorat and Khoon bhari Maang and lately Sridevi made a great comeback with English -Vinglish.So it was a pleasant surprise to watch the movie Queen on International Women's Day(What an apt day to watch this great film with the girl gang!)

Frankly speaking,I have never ever liked Kangana Ranaut but this time when I saw the trailers of her film Queen I decided to watch it as her acting seemed effortless and the clips viewed heightened my curiosity about the movie.The movie did not disappoint at all.I loved Kangana's character and the way she grows as a person through the movie.All the other character actors in the movie are natural ,specially Lisa Hayden.There is so much this movie teaches you without being preachy or monotonous. Kangana lived her role and was it really a pleasant surprise for me to know that she can act!The other foreign male lead was really a looker!The film made me crave for paani puri too!(Watch the movie to know why)There are quite a few fun moments (like the lizard scene) and some scenes that made us realize that we must not be judgemental of others with regard to their sexual orientation ,work,status or dressing.It was nice to see the female protagonist leave the hero high and dry and walk away with her head held high and a smile playing on her lips.The movie Queen took us through the journey of Rani and her growth from an unassuming girl into a confident girl ,ready to accept challenges and having immense belief on herself.There is a Rani in all of us and we too need to come out of our shell and do away with our fears and apprehensions.We need to have more confidence in ourselves and remember never ever to lose our self-respect.This movie was like a breath of fresh air and it made me leave the cinema hall with a smile on my face.

Another movie that touched a chord was the movie Highway.The movie was stupendous!A simple tale told in a different manner. Alia Bhatt was really a surprise package in the film.The film touched upon child abuse in the most unconventional way. Randeep Hooda was awesome as the dacoit who kidnaps the rich Alia. Throughout the movie he smiles only once and does complete justice to the role he plays.After the soft and mushy Student of the Year it was unbelievable to see Alia carry this role well.There were a few scenes that left me teary-eyed.I really loved the locations chosen and it really made me wish I could visit these beautiful locations and even have a ride atop the roof of a bus moving along the winding roads!Hats off to the Director of the film Imtiaz Ali for giving us such a gem of a movie.Such a simple movie with such a poignant message.We always assume that our little ones are safe and secure in their homes amongst their family and relatives but it is here that the threat of abuse can leave scars for life.

Both the movies had melodious songs which were a welcome change from the Lungi dance , Blue hai paani-paani and Char bottle vodka type songs that are being churned out every week.I must say I really loved the way Alia moved to the western beats and even her rendition of the song was superb..Both the movies were different from each other but the common factor was that the female lead in the movie carried the film on her shoulders and made the viewing all the more worthwhile as here the female lead was not just a show-piece, she was a woman of substance.Wish to see many more such women -oriented films  and see the changing trend in films.More power to women!!!Way to Go Womania!!!

I Feel the Feel You Feel.....

Facebook has many fans and I am one of them.It allows me to connect virtually even when I cannot do that in real time.It gives me an insight about what is happening around me....in the lives of my friends,cousins and colleagues.What keeps them happy,what bugs them,where they went ,what they did,what they ate???......it's all there for all to see. Selfies are also a rage but I for one am terrible at that though I wish I had the knack of clicking great self pictures,but I guess it is an art at which I am hopeless.I must confess,I am a photo-uploading monster.I keep on uploading photos of my trips,get-togethers,exhibitions I attend  and even the food I eat!!!

Another thing that interests me is the status updates of friends where they post shayaris,love couplets,words of wisdom,motivational quotes,Santa-Banta jokes,husband-wife jokes and what-have-you.What catches my interest and what appeals to me I re-post or copy-paste as my status update.Just recently I read some interesting lines on my friends status.I loved them as they aptly described my emotional state at that period.So what do I do next?Of course,I just copy-pasted the lines and put it up as my status.What a foot in the mouth moment it was!!!As soon as I did that I got a message from my friend requesting me to give credit for her writing.I was amazed and embarrassed to the core as I really never thought that she could have written those lines.....I assumed they were just some random lines written by some one and she had just posted it, just as I had.I felt like a fool for not giving her credit as I always make it a point to give due credit to my photographer friends who click photos at the many photo walks I attend.How shameful!I immediately assured her that I would rectify my mistake and within seconds I credited her for her wonderful lines.I sincerely apologised for my folly and told her that I never imagined that she had penned those lines herself.I appreciated her work and was glad that the issue was sorted.

What amazed me was that she had penned down some feelings that were so true to how I felt.The same emotions,the same yearning,the same everything that I felt.And she had told me that those lines were very personal.....wow!She was feeling exactly like how I was and vice-versa!!!I felt that those lines were written by me!It made me realize that we are not alone and there are so many of us out there who have the same feelings,emotions...a common thread runs through us that binds us...silently,unknowingly.Many a times we fail to realize that and think that whatever we suffer no one knows and understands....but someone ,somewhere is feeling the same pain,facing the same or similar challenge.Similarly ,even when we are ecstatic with joy and unfettered happiness there are some out there who are feeling the same emotional high.

Amazing....life is really amazing.

There is someone or so many out there who can feel the feel you feel.....

Life never ceases to surprise us,challenge us,motivate us,delight us and intrigue us.Wonder why we cannot live together as one unit without the upheavals and clashes even when we know that each one of us has similar emotions.Why can't that common thread of emotions and feeling bring us closer?

Finally,what we all crave for is happiness,love and understanding from those who are near and dear to us.Yet,we are all still searching.....yearning for that happiness,love and understanding that eludes us.

The search continues......

Aaj Mein Oopar!!!

I am sure what I am jotting down today may not be quite so interesting for many out there as they have experienced it many times before. I am talking about my first, my very first experience at flying!!!

I have always wanted to travel to as many places I could and luckily I had an opportunity to visit Kerala with my cousin and his wife. Since they had only a few days to tour with us they opted to take us, that is me and my daughter by flight., The whole trip in itself was awesome and the most memorable trip ever but what made it more so was the flight to and fro from Mumbai to Cochin.

It all began at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Vile parle where we were dropped in an auto by my brother-in-law. As we neared it we could see the brand new and sparkling terminal 2 or T2 which was to be inaugurated soon in January by the honourable President of India. Yes, I have been to the airport a few times but this was different as I was here to take flight and not just see someone off!!!

Shreya and I were a bit apprehensive as we did not know what the procedure exactly was. The sign boards put up all around the terminal were of great help and soon we had our boarding passes in our hands and had our luggage checked in. We were there much before departure so we had a mini photo session as we waited in the waiting area. I had a washroom break three times, not any less as it was quite cool or maybe it was nerves.

Both of us had a good look all around and we observed the passengers as they moved around with their baggage with different expressions on their faces. There were the frequent fliers who walked about as if they were in their hotel lobby, they knew where to go, what to .....they felt at home in these surroundings. Then there were families with kids (or is it the other way around?)The kids talked non-stop, played games, ran after each other, dropped things and fidgetted with the baggage looking for God knows what!!!There were the 'I need my beauty sleepy' types too. They were fast asleep and like magic they were up when their flight was announced or just a little before it was. They made themselves comfortable on the chairs or spread themselves on the ground and had a good snooze. There were the groups of tourists, honey-mooning couples, office goers out on work and those like us who were out on their first flight. We also saw the security personnel, service staff, receptionists and the air-hostesses.

Finally our flight was announced and we moved on towards gate number three (well ahead of the others),showed our boarding passes and sat in the king long bus that took us to our vaahan. Yay!!!At last we were climbing the steps and getting into the giant plane. Shreya was clicking away and was told by the airhostess who was there to welcome us with folded hands, to stop taking pictures. Both f us were too excited to mind and we got into the plane. We had the good fortune of having a window seat too!!!The personnel in the aircraft made themselves busy and there was a flurry of activity .The flight pilot and co-pilot was announced and the main doors were shut. Time to fly!!!!

The aircraft steered itself towards the runway and took off. Shreya and I ,like little kids kept our eyes glued to the window to see the take-off. There were lights all around the runway and the airplane slowly and steadily made its way into the dark sky. It was exactly 5:35 am when we took off. Immediately the airhostesses took their positions and as the announcement regarding the safety measures to be taken during the flight were announced, they enacted them. This was so  interesting for us to watch as we had had heard so many jokes about the "do dwaar aage aur do dwaar  picche" announcement. I think there were about 4 to 5 air-hostesses on the flight and they wore well ironed colourful printed sarees. Only one of them was young and beautiful and she enacted the safety drilll so well. while the other one was looking so fed up. After the drill we took time to gauge our surroundings in the plane. Surprisingly, we did not even feel as if we were in flight. On looking out we felt that we were moving so slowly. All we could see was pitch darkness and slowly when it was dawn we could see the bright sun.

Breakfast was served within a few minutes. Like well-oiled machinery, they got to work and soon every passenger had their breakfast before them on the little tables. I opted for non-vegetarian fare when Shreya settled for vegetarian. She had meduwada, sambar, chutney, bread, jam and butter while I had egg omlette ,potato wedges, bread,jam and butter. This was followed by coffee or tea. We had our fill and Shreya dozed off while I sat and just looked out of the tiny window afraid to miss out on anything exciting during the flight. Before long,it was time for me to use the wash room.the washroom was so small!!!It was clean and the sound of the flush was quite loud...whoooooshhh!!!!I whiled away my time by looking at my fellow passengers and just about ten minutes before landing it began.......the terrible ear ache!!!Shreya too awoke and she too said that there was unbearable pain in her ears. There was nothing we could do to reduce that pain as unfortunately, though I was told to chew on chewing gum during the flight ,I did not have any chewing gum. Thankfully ,it lasted only for about five minutes but even those few minutes we both were close to tears. Pain gone, we concentrated on the view outside and saw the famous backwaters of Kerala, tiled roofs and the approaching Cochin International airport. What a wonderful first-time flight it had been (minus the part where our ears had ached)From the high skies back to the ground, we collected our luggage from the carousal for baggage and walked out to see Mr.John, who had come to recieve  us on behalf of Paradise Holidays, holding a placard with my cousins name on it.

After a truly wonderful and memorable stay there we came back to Cochin International Airport for our return flight. Like the earlier flight, here too we had breakfast but this time I too opted for vegetarian fare. This time it was dosas and medu  wada  sambar.The wada was tasty but the dosa was like white cardboard and tasteless. Here too I enjoyed the hawai sundaris go through the emergency drill for passengers.As this flight was a morning one we could see the view below much more clearly. Shreya had the window seat and I had a huge passenger beside me who tried to occupy a quarter of my seat too as he spread himself comfortably in his seat. Miraculously, this time around even during the landing both of us did not experience any ear ache! What a relief! So,as we began to descend we looked out and saw the innumerable hutment colonies lining the airport. Sad to know that this is the view any tourist to India has when she/he lands at Mumbai airport. Anyway, we collected our bags and made our way out of the airport and though our mini vacations were awesome it was great to be back to Amchi Mumbai!!!
After all, home is where the heart is!
What a wonderful experience we had on our first ever flight!
Hoping this is a beginning of many more flights.......after all who does not want wings???

The window to the skies!

What a feeling!!!!!Truly sensational...!!!

Shreya getting the most of her window seat.....