I am looking forward to the visit of a friend from India, who’ll be coming to the Netherlands for the first time. We are excitedly making plans, and one major focus of our planning has been – sightseeing. I had just been thinking how I could best describe the various attractions and sights in and around Amsterdam, when I chanced upon the song “Ladki Kyon…” from the film Hum Tum (2004) on YouTube. Ah, it struck me, my hours spent watching Hindi masala movies were not for nothing! All I had to do was take her through the song, and she could tell me what she found interesting. Because in case you didn’t know, this isn’t just any frothy, inane song. It is in fact a 5-minute action packed, extended tour through Amsterdam’s attractions (with even a slight detour to The Hague).
Read More »90s ka nostalgia: the non-film music albums
It has been stated by many a wise woman already, but I keep rediscovering it for myself every now and then. Nostalgia can turn the most ordinary experience into an amazing one. And at this moment I am passing through a phase of nostalgia for the 90s. More specifically, the mid to late 90s.
This was the period when I had just attained adulthood and it felt like everything was possible. Romance was round the corner, path to success was straight and simple – I could make of life what I wanted to. This is of course nostalgia speaking. The little demon of rationality is even now whispering, it wasn’t all that great, was it? Remember the slogging for exams, the insecurities of what the future will hold and just the ordinariness of existence, which wasn’t any different than now? But nostalgia, triggered by time spent on YouTube (oh, the irony!) is definitely winning. And as I would like some company on this nostalgic trip to the 90s, here is an open invitation for anyone interested to join in.
Connected by ink and paper
This quote from Roman philosopher and statesman, Seneca “The comfort of having a friend might be taken away, but not that of having had one”, rings so true to me today.
Early last week brought the news of the death of my dear friend Gerty. As I try to come to terms with this news, I keep remembering our many interactions, what the friendship with her and her husband Fritz has meant to me, and how amazing it is that this friendship even came about.
Moving away from the main theme of this blog today, I want to share this personal story that I had started writing more than a decade ago, soon after Fritz had passed away.
The crying catharsis
Tears are said to be the deluge that cleanses regret and drains away sorrow. Tears and smiles are supposed to go hand-in-hand, just like rain and sunshine. Just like a plant needs the latter to flourish so does a human need the former to grow in strength and stature. Hmm…rain and sunshine, I guess this wasn’t an Indian simile. The Indian sun is a tear jerker in itself, and comparing tears to rain in India would mean a short supply of tears in the dry northern Indian plains or seasonal torrential downpours in coastal areas. But I digress.
Read More »Knives Out (2019)
A whodunnit, a social satire, a comedy or simply a feel good movie? It is perhaps all of that and more. On the recommendation of my sisters, I had watched this movie when it came out a couple of years ago. I recently re-watched it with my family (including two teenagers) and together we enjoyed this layered drama just as much, or maybe even more, than when I had watched it first.
Masala Punch 