11 March 2024

The Great Indian Kitchen - a movie review


OTT             : Prime Video
Language    : Malayalam
Director        : Jeo Baby
Cast             : Nimisha Sajayan, Suraj Venjaramoodu

The movie was highly recommended by some friends recently. Watched it with subtitles since I do not follow Malayalam. True to most Malayalam movies, I was expecting a thriller, despite the title. But the movie turned out to be so much more. 

The viewers' attention is riveted right from the first frame, as the visuals from a typical Indian kitchen blast their senses. Intricate scenes of vegetables being chopped, dough being kneaded, meat being washed at the sink, delicacies being fried, dosa and sambar being cooked diligently, making of tea, filter coffee etc. get your gastric juices flowing and you can even smell their aroma! 
Surely, such mouth-watering fare can only foretell blissful times ahead, right? Wrong.


The story begins with a typical arranged marriage, where a girl from an urban family ends up marrying into a prestigious yet rural family. The traditions of her new home require her to give up her aspirations for a career, and she becomes a full-time unpaid maid. She assists her hard-working mother-in-law (MIL), helping her day in and day out, in all the household chores uncomplainingly. The the two men just relax and do nothing to help.

The chutney has to be ground only on the stone slab and rice has to be cooked on the choolha - as the head of the house likes it that way. The use of pressure cooker, mixer etc. are frowned upon. This is in stark contrast to the girl's urban home that had had all the modern amenities. There is no relief in the regime to partake previous evening's refrigerated left-overs, or have rice instead of chappatis, if the lady is indisposed.


The father-in-law expects to be waited upon hand and foot. His wife brings him his toothbrush every morning and his chappals when he steps out of home. Though he is soft-spoken and polite, the steel in his voice as the head of the house, is palpable. The husband, a professor who lectures his female students about the importance of a formal family structure, cannot even be bothered to call in a plumber to fix a leaking pipe in the kitchen sink. 

The men have abominable table manners. The ladies can eat only after they have eaten, that too on a messy table. The stench from the drain water accumulating from the pipe leakage, slowly permeates the bride's life. There are not many characters or dialogues or even names spoken. The expressions on the characters' faces do the talking. The MIL soon exits for her daughter's delivery, leaving the bride to deal with the rigorous monotony on her own. The endless chopping, cooking, washing and cleaning up scenes flow into each other. Surprisingly, no one is ever shown bringing the groceries, veggies or meat to replenish the rapidly consumed ingredients!

The honeymoon period between the newly-married couple, stealing hugs in the kitchen and dining room, soon deteriorates into a stifling prison sentence for the bride. Barbs, verbal abuse and physical dissatisfaction, seep into the stagnating relationship as the husband's colossal ego cannot handle candid observations by his wife. 

The introduction of two new characters do nothing to improve the plight of our female protagonist. The paid substitute maid does chores in others' homes whenever the lady of the house is suffering from that time of the month. The elderly widowed aunt appears at the behest of the FIL, who prefers not to wield the reigns. Both these ladies end up mimicking the pre-ordained drudgery. The maid, Usha, hides her own menstrual dates and sings while working. She seems happiest of the lot, possibly because she gets compensated for her toil. The aunt represents females who espouse patriarchal values to other women, on behalf of the men.

The enforced isolation, discomfort and judgment during her menstrual cycle, soon takes its toll. As the men treat her like an untouchable at such times, especially during a festival, there is backlash from other men for a Facebook post made by her. The girl finally rebels when she is ordered by her husband to delete the post or leave. While her MIL is still slaving away at her daughter's lavish bungalow as a salwar-kurta clad maid this time, our heroine finally walks away into sublime freedom. 

What I liked is that there is no attempt made by the director to show a happy ending in terms of the husband apologising to her, or her finding a more understanding and broad-minded partner. There are no children to complicate the divorce either. Instead, she is shown to be an independent career woman, teaching dance, thus returning to her first love. She does this despite the severe disapproval of her own mother. While she has embarked on a journey of liberation, another woman is now the wife and slave, in her place. And so it goes on. 

Why do women not put their foot down in the first instance instead of waiting for the dam to burst? Why do even highly educated women tolerate so much before throwing in the towel? Why do others tag along with the men despite suffering themselves?
Hats off to the director for bringing out the contradictions in our traditions and the lopsided male-female roles in a family. 

01 March 2024

Writer's retreat at Dorian House


I recently returned from a truly memorable retreat at the picturesque Dorian House in the heart of Auroville!! 

The hiatus provided a rejuvenating break from my relentless routine and urban luxuries. Walking to and fro between various bungalows, lounging on the floor for hours during class, interacting with an eclectic bunch hailing from diverse geographies, vocational backgrounds as well as writing expertise, was a novel experience indeed. After the recent career pivot from a corporate employee to an author, I was yanked out of my comfort zone yet again!


The bungalows were idyllic, verdant and pleasingly aesthetic. The vibrant colors, tasteful decor and thoughtful use of natural light, provided a soothing yet stimulating ambience.



The morning walk through the Revelation forest, breathtaking views and spontaneous meditation in the middle of the woods, was enchanting and exhilarating!




T
he various sessions were enlightening and the classroom assignments were eye-opening. What bowled me over was that I was finally among people who did not hold back from expressing themselves, were unapologetically authentic, while coping valiantly through the barriers of language, food and creepy crawlies. The environment supplied nourishing fodder to write and explore genres I have hitherto found daunting. 














The musical and “reading” night unveiled the talent of all artists. Each of us had a signature style. While an author astounded with his musical prowess, a musician read out some of his writing! The party introduced bohemian newcomers who regaled us with majestic performances.


The full moon and sunset were exquisite and provoked poetry. 
Somehow, they seemed more magical than usual in this place. 

The various plants, flora, dogs and peacocks added to the atmosphere. 




Since childhood, I have been happiest amidst nature and books. And this place provided both! The flaky power supply and intermittent connectivity did little to dim our morale. We found respite in the cosy cafes, quaint bookstores and street-side shopping.

The camaraderie, leg-pulling and poking fun at each others’ foibles, ensured that I never became homesick. This bonding among virtual strangers was unbelievable in such a short time, that too across multiple age groups.


When I returned home, my family immediately noticed the calm in me. My passion for writing glowed even brighter after all that external and internal stimuli.

01 January 2024

Some Hindi movie reviews

1) 12th fail


Theme : Biopic

Director : Vidhu Vinod Chopra


The plot is based on the real-life story of IPS officer, Mohan Kumar Sharma, a best-selling book written by Ashok Pathak. It is a simple story of a 12th fail student, who through sheer grunt work and perseverance against many odds, manages to crack the UPSC examination to become an IPS officer.


Vikrant Massey has literally gotten into the skin of the protagonist by looking appropriately sleep-deprived and malnourished for this role. His look of the character is balanced by his outstanding performance to bring alive Mohan Kumar Sharma's noteworthy achievement on screen. Inspite of hailing from a village in Chambal (MP), where schools push students to cheat in order to clear 12th grade; he takes inspiration from a local cop, decides to study with integrity, and become a police officer like him. The righteous path is never easy, and indeed in his case, you really feel the burden of his failures weighing him down yet never completely breaking his spirit. The theme of "restart" is very much required to keep up the volatile spirits of today's youth, and relevant even for adults.


He could not have done it without the sacrifice of his grandmother, the values instilled by his father and the unstinting support of some friends, well-wishers as well as his lady-love. Ably supported by Medha Shankar, Anant Joshi, Sarita Joshi, Priyanshu Chatterjee and Harish Khanna, the director has woven a truly impactful story which will be an inspiration for the current mall-hopping generation.


2) Dunki


Theme : Illegal immigration

Director : Rajkumar Hirani


Rajkumar Hirani is that magician who has taken up extremely diverse yet relevant topics and made blockblusters out of them through comic screenplays. It is very apparent that he goes to a lot of depth to flesh out his characters and wields the baton such that they become unforgettable.


I have to say that the movie plot was refreshingly original even for a movie-buff such as myself. The topic is quite serious but it has been handled so deftly by the director, that though its light-hearted to watch for the most part, it leaves a massive after-thought and provokes debate regarding the ethics of illegal entry into any country. This emotional roller-coaster, backed by SRK's charisma, a tight screenplay, as well as flawless rendition of the unforgettable characters by the cast, packs a solid punch at the very end of 2023.


Set in the backdrop of Punjab, the characters are all Punjabi and speak the dialect fluently. Taapsee Pannu is extremely credible as a go-getter, wanna-be wrestler, Punjabi kudi. Vicky Kaushal's cameo is nothing short of mind-blowing, while Boman Irani, Vikram Kocchar, Anil Grover all give superb performances as the supporting cast. But the outstanding performance is by King Khan himself, who did not just ride on his phenomenal star presence, but made Hardy Singh an extremely relatable and loveable protagonist. Though the love story angle of the movie is far from satisfactory, it brings out the stark contrast in the priorities of the lead couple when faced with a life-changing decision.


It took courage to make a movie on this topic for the masses instead of sticking with a documentary and I heartily applaud the effort as well as the end-product!


3) Kathal


Theme : Social satire on politics, police

Director : Yashowardhan Mishra


This is an underrated, under-marketed movie that did not get its due credit.


Kathal - a jackfruit mystery, is a heavy topic handled light-heartedly by the director and enacted very well by the cast : Sanya Malhotra, Anand Joshi, Rajpal Yadav, Vijay Raaz & Neha Saraf. It starts off as a case of two missing jackfruits from the tree of the local MLA, who pulls rank with the police to give it undue priority over other more relevant cases. Sanya is the officer in charge of investigating the missing fruits and given a carte-blanche as well as award money for finding the thief and returning the fruit before it turns ripe. Ironically, by following a text-book investigation of the same, she ends up bringing to the fore, and cracking, a much more serious crime, with the help of a well-meaning journalist and her trusted aides.


How thrilling can the chase for 2 missing jackfruits be? Well, the movie not only manages to make it interesting, but handles the topic of caste divide, romance across ranks, women's liberation as well as fighting the "right battles", alongwith the who-dun-it thread too! Sanya Malhotra turns in a performance with undeniable versatility and confidence.



4) Dasvi


Theme : Importance of education

Director : Tushar Jalota


This Abhishek Bachchan, Nimrat Kaur & Yami Gautam starrer was a surprise package.


What starts off as the story of a typical illiterate yet powerful politician, quickly transforms into his spiritual ascension through education - giving his matriculation exam while in jail. The reverse transformation of this wife, Nimrat, is also equally thought-provoking. All 3 have done great justice to their roles - definitely one of the best of Abhishek's career, and they got the dialects bang on too. The challenges faced by the protagonist to learn the various subjects, especially his nemesis : Maths and Hindi, totally resonated with our teenage daughter too.


While it spans across politics, importance of education and what one can accomplish if one is committed to the goal - it is basically a human story that needs to be watched by all.


5) Atrangi re


Theme : Mental health

Director : Aanand L Rai


So much has been shown about love over the years. Indeed there is so much literature about it, that there can be hardly be any aspect of love that is novel. Yet 'Atrangi re' manages to pull this off.


With superb performances by Dhanush and Sara Ali Khan, and a contemporary theme about mental health, this one was a pleasant surprise! It definitely exceeded my expectations as far as storyline and acting are concerned. Akshay Kumar, in his cameo, lends steady support.


The various layers of the traumatized mind are unraveled gradually as we head toward the climax; the sensitive handling of the subject is a credit to the director. Definitely one of the memorable performances by Sara Ali Khan; Dhanush excels as usual. The other characters are sketched extremely well and each has their own footage and significance, even if only in a supporting role.




26 November 2023

Nov 2023 - Madhya Pradesh diaries

This Nov 2023 Diwali, my family (of 7) took a vacation touring the state of Madhya Pradesh.

 

Madhya Pradesh is known as the “Heart of India” because of the variety of things it has to offer. It has been home to cultural and spiritual heritage of almost all the religions. Innumerable monuments, intricately carved temples, stupas, forts and palaces are dotted all over the State. There are many national parks & wildlife sanctuaries too - MP leads the country for its tiger population.

 

As per the map below, the places we visited (by road) were-

Gwalior -> Jhansi -> Orchha ->Khajuraho -> Panna -> Jabalpur -> Bhopal -> Ujjain -> Indore

 

Jhansi is technically in Uttar Pradesh. Also, we visited Sanchi & Bhimbetka - 2 UNESCO heritage sites, close to Bhopal. We had to drop Bandhavgarh & Panchmarhi as they require separate trips to do full justice to them and we could not really afford the added time in the itinerary of 6 busy working and schooling parties.

 



As can be seen from the map, MP borders with the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. There are traces of cultures from all these places found at different places within MP.

 

My first impression –

MP is truly vast, as could be seen from the distances we had to travel. When our flight landed at Gwalior airport, only sprawling farmlands and open spaces were seen from above. Throughout MP, there are hardly any tall buildings visible anywhere, and the roads look quite clean. Even the public restrooms on highways, as well as the tourist attractions, were odorless and had running water. The weather was pleasant during the day and got bit chilly in early mornings and evenings. The sun sets bit earlier than in Pune. Also, the weather was usually bit cloudy, the heat was never too intense during the day.

 

Gwalior :

Day 1 was travel plus sightseeing at Gwalior. We were met by our guide at the airport.

After a lunch stop, we immediately set off for the Gwalior fort so as not to miss the daylight for sightseeing for the day. Gwalior Fort, situated on top of a hill, finds its place among the best fortresses of India. It is also considered to be one of the most impenetrable forts in the country. Gwalior Fort is believed to be over a thousand years old. It is strategically located on a steep sandstone hill, which provides a natural defence advantage. The fort showcases a unique amalgam of architectural styles, including Rajput, Mughal, and Hindu. This blend of styles is a proof to the various dynasties that ruled the region. 

 


Jai Vilas Mahal, the palace of Gwalior, is a fine example of European architecture. It was founded by Jayaji Rao Scindia, designed and built by Lt. Col. Sir Michael Filose. The palace is a combination of the architectural style of the Mughals and the Medici - the first storey is Tuscan, the second Italian-Doric and the third Corinthian.

The palace serves as a residence for the descendants of the Scindia family. It also serves as a museum stretched over 35 rooms, houses the Chitrangada Raje Art Gallery and a library that comprises more than 5,000 books. Each  room in the regal palace contains curios of historical importance, including a collection of swords that date back to the times of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb, and the original Dhal (shield) that belonged to freedom fighter Rani Laxmibai.
 

Scindia (originally Shinde), the Maratha ruling family of Gwalior, dominated the politics of northern India in the 18th century. The dynasty was founded by Ranoji Scindia. By his death in 1750, Ranoji had established his capital at Ujjain. Eventually, the Scindia capital moved to Gwalior. The greatest of Ranoji’s successors was Mahadji Scindia, who created a north Indian empire virtually independent of the peshwa. He emerged from war with the British East India Company as the recognized ruler of north-western India, and was named as the Supreme Commander of India (that’s when the original name Shinde became SCindia - I am a little skeptical of this theory, though).

 The map shows the extent of the Maratha Empire during 18th century. The Maratha Empire reigned from the late 17th to the early 20th century. At its peak, it covered much of the area south of Afghanistan, Pakistan and east of India, also known as South Asia. After being checked by Britain’s East India Company in the Third Anglo-Maratha War, it started declining and somehow lost an impactful mention in Indian history. The picture below depicts the Scindia family crest, a combination of the British horse insignia as well as snake emblem of Scindia family. Legend behind snake emblem is that a cobra protected Mahadji Scindia, by shading the baby from the sun with its hood. An astrologer thereafter fortold that he was destined for greatness which came to be true.
 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last stop on Day1 was the Saas-bahu temple, a shortened version of the original name "Sahastrabaahu temple". The entire temple is covered with carvings, notably 4 idols of Brahma, Vishnu and Saraswati above its entrance door. History has it that Rani Laxmibai escaped from the Britishers from Jhansi to Gwalior, and jumped from here after realizing that the King of Gwalior(her cousin) has betrayed her. We finally checked into our lovely resort around 8pm and relaxed there until breakfast the next day.

Jhansi, Orchha : 

Day 2 was a long one – our MP road trip officially commenced from here. We headed toward Khajuraho and passed Jhansi and Orchha along the way. First, we visited the historical Jhansi fort – very well covered indeed, by our local guide. He brought out the contrast between the valor of Laxmibai, the widow-queen, vis-a-vis the Jauhar of Rajasthan queens. We then visited 2 temples in Orchha : Shri Ramraja mandir and the Lakshmi Narayan temple (famous for paintings on its ceiling). Orchha is renowned for the classic mural paintings, frescos and Chhatris (cenotaphs) that were constructed to commemorate the Bundela rulers.  

We reached Khajuraho after sundown.

Panna :

On Day 3, we set off for the safari at Panna Tiger Reserve very early in the morning. Panna is roughly an hour's drive from Khajuraho, so some additional time got added for the commute back and forth. The woods are vast and lovely; it was a treat to watch the forest come to life with the rise of the sun! Though we failed to sight any of the big cats, we did witness many deer species, monkeys, elephants as well as the tiger, leopard and hyena footprints in the forest. Despite our acute disappointment we joked and laughed sportingly while consuming our packed breakfast.

 

Khajuraho :

Back to the hotel, we bathed, changed and set off to witness the grandeur of the UNESCO world heritage site of the Khajuraho temples.

 

 

The temples are truly breathtakingly sculpted and the detailing is mind-blowing. They are not functional temples, however, and we even saw bats inhabiting some. Got to hand it to our guide, who was super sincere; he did not leave any of the details out. Some new things I learned from him - 

 

These world-famous temples were built during the Chandela dynasty, most temples were constructed between 950 and 1050 AD during the reigns of Hindu Kings Yasovarman and Dhanga. Of the 85 (Hindu & Jain) temples, only 22 survive today. Most were destroyed by Muslim invaders. Thanks to Captain T.S. Burt (a Britisher) who ‘re-discovered’ and introduced these temples to the world in 1838.

 

Apparently, the sculptures were installed in temples to lure men back to a life of marital bliss, from one of monkhood, that had become prevalent with the advent of Buddhism.

 

Jabalpur :

On Day 4, we commuted from Khajuraho to Jabalpur and arrived the our hotel in evening. The evening Aarti at Gwarighat of the Narmada River is a treat to watch for its spiritual experience. It is like the more famous Ganga Aarti of Haridwar & Varanasi. The Ghat has been renovated and is surprisingly quite clean. One can enjoy a short boat ride to watch the ceremony from front and offer diyas into the river. Since it was Diwali night, it was not crowded at all, nor did the river smell. The overall experience felt soulful!


 
Day 5 covered ropeway to Dhuandhar falls, and boating at Bhedaghat, before proceeding to the city of lakes – Bhopal. 
 
Dhuandhar water fall and marble rocks are the major tourist attractions in Jabalpur. The fall is formed by the booming Narmada river on its way to the deep gorge of marble rock. The panoramic view of the fall from cable car is really magnificent. Bhedaghat is famous for the high marble rocks making a valley through which the river Narmada flows. Hindi movies : Asoka and Mohenjodaro, were shot here. The local guide spoke in a sing-song tone, with rhyming last words in alternate lines in his monologue.
 

Bhopal :

Day 6 & 7 were spent in Bhopal. On first day we covered 2 more UNESCO world heritage sites : Bhimbetka rock shelters & Sanchi stupa.

The Bhimbetka rock shelters are an archaeological site that spans the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods. It exhibits the earliest traces of human life in India and evidence of the Stone Age starting at the site in Acheulian times. Some of the caves feature prehistoric paintings - the earliest are dated to 10,000 BCE.


The Great Stupa at Sanchi has been the focal point of the Buddhist faith in the region. The inception of Sanchi as a sacred centre is attributed to the Mauryan emperor Aśoka. His reign in 3rd century BCE was instrumental to the spread of Buddhism throughout the Indian subcontinent. Depicting Buddha through symbols, the sculpted art shows the evolution in sculpting techniques and the elaboration of icons, especially depicting Buddha. Also, the kids got to learn of the Maurya dynasty, the wily Chanakya and Asoka's disillusionment with war that led him to seek solace in Buddhism.

 

Day 6 evening was spent in shopping around New Market. On Day 7, we covered the famous Upper lake, followed by visit to Tribal museum. Spanning 7 acres, the museum is an ode to the lives, art, aesthetics, and philosophies of various tribes who constitute 30% of MP population. Through the fusion of materials, lighting, imagery, mythography, and traditional modernism, Tribal Museum at Bhopal reimagines the spatiality of museums.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ujjain : We reached Ujjain on evening of Day 7. Immediately, we took off for the darshan at Mahakaaleshwar temple and witnessed the light show. This is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and is inevitably crowded. Ujjain is one out of seven salvation-providing cities. It is famous for Gadhkalika and Harsiddhi, the two Shakti Peeths, and sacred Kumbh mela that takes place in four cities of India. The cave of king Bhartari is found here, and it is believed that Ujjain has footprints of God Vishnu. On Day 8, we visited Ramghat, Har Siddhi Mata mandir and Saandipani Rishi ashram, where Lord Krishna & his childhood friend, Sudama, completed their education. Some members of our party painstakingly read about each of the 64 art forms taught at the Gurukul. 
 
Finally, we proceeded to our last destination – Indore.

 

Indore :

Day 8 & 9 were spent in Indore. On the first day, we checked into a very posh hotel, regrouped from our travels so we could do some serious shopping and snacking! After shopping for Maheshwari & Chanderi saris at the cloth market near Rajwada, we were eager to sample the goodies at Saraafa bazaar. Since Diwali had ended by then, the crowd in this narrow lane was nothing short of scary. Yet we managed to taste quite a few famous dishes, while balancing the various shopping bags and hardly any place to sit! The fatigue of last many days had finally caught up with us. The next morning, after relaxing bit more than usual, we finally set out on the last day of sight-seeing to the Rajwada and Kaanch mandir. Lacking the energy for any other places viz. Mandu fort or Maheshwar, we directly headed for lunch at 56 Dukaan, after which we chilled at the Treasure Island mall until we had to depart for our flight to Pune.

Some of the mouth-watering snacks that we enjoyed at Indore :

Bhutte ka kees

Khopra patties

Joshi dahi bada

Garaadu

Jaamun shots

Shikanji

Pani puri, Aloo tikki

Coconut crush

Shaahi Falooda & kulfi

Closing note-

And so ended our super happening trip around MP. I had not heard of MP beyond the jungles that house tigers as well as dacoits (by which so many Hindi movies were inspired), and of the Bhopal gas tragedy. I discovered so much more! Though there wasn’t any of the usual excitement for kids, they thrived in the quality time with family. We learned so much about the history of India right from 10,000 BC till the 18th century! The road trip via our tempo traveler was smooth; we enjoyed listening to songs, world cup cricket as well as some repartee during the journeys. Keeping pace with teenagers as well as senior citizen, looking out for each other, being without our office laptops, absorbing the landscapes from the bus- window, are some of the things that stand out in making this trip truly memorable.


It was good to have a flexible itinerary where we could include some things that we heard of later on and excluded some too. Leaving the shopping and food for the end turned out to be a good decision as we were too exhausted by then; our dipping energy as well as jaded senses were rejuvenated with yummy food as well as retail therapy. Bhopal & Gwalior stand out for me for the variety and historical significance, but every place had something novel to offer and lovely memories. Jabalpur was a surprise indeed; the mighty Narmada flowing through the valley of marble rocks is a magnificent sight. Indore felt very like my hometown, Baroda, albeit a bigger, and cleaner, avatar.

 

There is a sense of accomplishment whenever a task is completed satisfactorily. Especially, if its been in the works for months! That's the feeling we are all experiencing currently.


The Great Indian Kitchen - a movie review

OTT                : Prime Video Language     : Malayalam Director          : Jeo Baby Cast                 : Nimisha Sajayan, Suraj Venjara...