Tahaan revisited

Birbalaaa.....ho hohoh..,,(echoes an 8-year old) and a soothing background score with a kind of rustic feeling is on. Starts Tahaan, the movie...A movie filled with the picturesque of the locales of the awe-inspiring valley of Kashmir, those wooden shacks, tiny huts, people busy weaving bamboo stuff, and mostly-seen pets --donkeys---all of this just takes you to another world, where there is peace and a cool breeze, sans the tension part.

Before more on this classic tale of dedication, a few glances at this child actor, Purav Bhandare (Tahaan). His eyes are damn talkative, and he is just another actor in the making. Darsheel (Safary) of Taare Zameen Par fame (he also has a gf, for who doesn't know) has that naughtyness in his attitude, but Purav says it all through his eyes (that love, confidence and never-say-die attitude for his donkey--Birbal-is something that one can't miss out on throughout the film). In the beginning, when he gets angry on his grandfather (Victor Banerjee) and is not in talking terms with Abba (he calls him so). The plot builds up. Grandfather is telling a story, Tahan's elder sister, Zoya, is listening, Haba (Sarika, Tahaan's mother) is making a oval bundle out of wool for knitting purpose. And, Tahaan forgets his anger and gets close to his grandfather as the story unfolds. Here, the way Purav does the whole shot is something like --you just can't take your eyes off the screen when he is on it.

That's the subtle work by the one of the best cinematographers of the country --Santosh Sivan--if not anything--the way he has captured the locales with every minute details is something that a not-so-filmy person can take notice of. It's like he has made the valleys talk and walk along with the characters.

Tahaan gets drawn towards violence without an idea of the very existence of its existence, but his eyes (again take notice of it), he makes it clear that it's just his dedication to get his beloved friend, Birbal (a donkey), whom he adores, loves, even scolds for being careless about life (the first voice-over--when he spots Birbal after searching for him amidst the valleys, he says that the donkey's carelessness wouldn't get the doneky a chance to enter the school).

It came sometime in 2008, and just vanished from the theatres (I also can't recall; when did it come, CAN YOU?), and critics said that it was not a mass-market release, while the problem was with the film's marketing. Yes, how can I be so sure? I watched it sometime in 2009, of course, it was again Purav's eyes and Mr Sivan's name, and Kashmir that persuaded me to buy the VCD. I watched it back-to-back thrice. And then I read the reviews, reports on its box-office success but was utterly disappointed. And mostly, I got to read that it's not a mass-market movie. I thought probably, I feel it's mass-market, but I couldn't sit over it. I let 8 people whom I know have varied choice on watching films by lending that VCD. And, you won't believe the responses that I got--two words--A MUST WATCH. There you go!!!True, that I tested it with a negligible audience but it's a movie worth watching.

It's about the determination and to let bonding prevail, no matter what happens. The journey of a Kashmiri kid to get his donkey back, that also involves those terror-stricken encounters that even kids have to face there, is something that relates to many in the lost crowd.

I was doing a story (non-journos, read article) on children's films in India, during the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on July 17, 2009, and I spoke to some of the film-makers who have made films for kids, or kids as the theme/central character. How could I complete the story without taking Mr Sivan's opinion (after watching Tahaan), as I so wanted to know if the film was made for the mass-market from the director's mouth. And he said, the first thing, "It's not a children's film. It's a movie for all. Tahaan, sans songs (only one Kashmiri song), is a film that can be seen with different perspectives, and thus has a niche audience. It rocked various festivals. Among other awards, Tahaan also received the best film, European UNICEF award in Greece. It was sold in 11 countries and major satellite networks."

The projection of life behind the mountains--where all those activities take place, and where they reside--again Tahaan sees through the mountains when he decides to step out without informing Moujee (his mom, Haba, played by Sarika), he at glance portrays his fear, courage, illusions and determination in that one look. As they are the same, behind which his father went missing three years back. Yes, if nothing else, it is a movie to watch to enjoy the wonderful cinematography if nothing else. But Tahaan's expressions are also something that one should go for.

As they say, "All for love. Here, it's all for the love of a donkey". Tahaan did get his donkey back, and Birbal also wanted to come back to Tahaan. So if you haven't checked out this one yet, hurry up!!!I'm sure, you would just fall for Tahaan. So did I, as a visual of the film was my wallpaper for more than 6 months till I left that office.

At times, donkeys get so important in life!!!!!!!

Decoding a practical fool

And the first post is written. Overwhelming responses, with some motivational ones. Those were needed. Thanks all, for you still remember (those with I've worked for couple of months) me, and the ones who can 'read' me day in and day out (they know me so well).

This one will again be on one conversation with another friend, and he is none other than Reetesh (Whom I call Tom, and he, YEAH YOU GUESSED IT, calls me Jerry), another Senior sub-editor. Yes, he deserves 4,5 lines of added introduction. He was with me in Group B at IIMC, he used to sit next to Mihir (another batch-mate) or next to me on the same back bench. And, he would sleep as he doesn't sleep at night like most of us. We give this silly reason, that we don't feel like sleeping, but something else is the reason--we are 'emotional fools' who get to interact with 'practical fools' throughout the whole day, and we keep thinking which one is better--to be an emotional fool or a practical fool.

Having said that, somehow, we went to the IIMC days and the life--the classes, guest faculties, batch-mates (each of these can be one post each). We were discussing the very essence of life--what one should do? Should one just go to work and work till it ticks 8,9 or whatever, or till the boss punches himself/herself out, and you are done for the day. Or, is it like really something substantial that we are doing. In between the conversation--he said something like--those can be called practical fools, who keep running after something without the knowledge that if they can achieve it at all or can't achieve it--or they don't know simply what they are chasing for. But, meanwhile, they put aside those precious diamonds in search of mere stones. Who just keep running for that destination, and who think that is the ultimate. But they don't stop by to consider if they have already got something valuable during the journey which is worth it.

He was on and I was listening probably because that was going to be the 2nd post. May be...Just recall--it might have happened with you also at times--when people say, "Don't act like a fool. Be PRACTICAL". Then you would think, "Yes, I should think practically about the feasibility of a particular thing." But very few people would advise you to chase your dreams or, in other words, follow an emotional fool's route.

This is not a post that demeans human sentiments but it is just an observation of it rather.

So, by now, you must have been sure, which one (fools) you are! Yes, you guessed it right. After all, we all act quite smart, but in reality, we are fools of some order or the another.

As the saying goes--"We are all fools in training!"

PS: Here, before posting it, I wanted to cut something, but I can't as this has to go unedited. Thus, please forgive me.

A beginning that was so longed for

And it started like this...I kept on thinking and thinking for 4 years in a row including today evening. They (friends, colleagues, and most important, the soulmates) kept on saying--come on, start it--you can do it. Everyone does that at night (when they get the time). "It's so needed for you," their belief. OK...It's decided. They have to be written now...Yes, i'm talking about those random thoughts that are swimming from here to there since I don't know when, and desperately want to reach at the harbour. Now, enough of introduction. As the title suggests, I don't want to follow that structured format, and the style sheet this time when I want just to say what I want to (but Commas, i'll put in place, which is a tribute to those editors who have taught me the hard way).

Again...cut it short. Like every other day, there was this call from a friend (will describe him later), and we went on talking about the sea, the sky, the sun, the rain and of course, office, presentations, COMMAS (from my side of the office), and slogging if it is worth it, and the list doesn't end here.

Again, cut it short...I can't, as I'm still searching for the first idea to write on!!!but this time, there's no deadline, no page has to be released. Yes, we write under pressure like they play cricket.

Coming back to the conversation that spanned through movies, music, and food--somewhere we had reached the point where we had started talking about when am I finally going to start jotting down those dots, and joining them to make that visible straight line, which will only happen once I just key in the words. I can't say how excited I was suddenly when I just thought about the thought of me going 'unedited'. Yes, none is going to touch the words now.

He just did not remind, persuade, or what not, to start it today (he said by mistake and corrected it to tonight the very next moment). He also said he would want to read the first one as soon as it is ready!

"Inside a sea of thoughts... but there is no drop available to put a full stop to it and that's life," something he said, and the gist of that can be summed up like this. These were the words that made the inroads to the beginning.

Hey there you all...please start what you want to do, it feels awesome. And for Arunav (who resembles me in a lot of things, and we are not twins), I wish you will also start putting your thoughts now. I started reading with your short stories, if you remember (that startling one on the BSNL tele-operator and the kid), couple of years back. If my first blog will get that urge in you to start writing, I'll be the happiest!!!

To the friend, who is also a Leo, it's just not a 'thank you' from my side, but my gratitude for a lifetime. To your question, "There is no need to put a full stop. You can assemble those drops and make another sea (of thoughts)."