Some memorable moviebytes from PK*

It really requires some creative genius and cinematic guts to touch upon issues that Rajkumar Hirani does in PK while keeping other aspects of bollywood style entertainment and box office intact. More so by mitigating commercial risks and coping with controversies.The Hirani - Abhijat style film-making has evolved over the years with sensitive social messages wrapped up in humour, satire and wit by controlling the urge to be preachy. Like a sequel to Lage Raho Munnabhai (the Saurabh Shukla link as godman in both, the lead actress as an RJ in Lage raho and a TV journalist in this one), this movie makes us think and laugh successfully while meeting the entertainment norms as defined by Indian censor board. Hirani must have had a challenging time, balancing precariously and avoiding in-depth treatment of the subject to deliver something seriously funny yet respecting the sentiments of the people, playing safe. While PK a.k.a Aamir Khan, so admirably lures believers and non-believers into the flow of the movie, he leaves us with some points, moments and questions that will stay with us for long:

• Why does the alienation caused by religion and faith need an alien or a special character from outer world to raise some quirky and uneasy questions?
• With 'innocence' (and a suitable dialect to go with it) or inebriated state of mind (drunk / peekay) we can probe a whole lot of things...but with 'experience' (presence of mind, sobriety) we choose to remain silent?
• Does schooling promote rational thinking, has it ever helped in delinking the institution of blind faith and its monetization
• The link between ignorance, fear and faith: jo dar gaya woh mandir gaya :)
• Interesting metaphors like our attire and dressing up, the picture of Mahatma Gandhi, the wrong number, the remote control, cassettes and batteries, and some catch phrases are some cool stuff  that set the right triggers
• The soliloquy of PK while he talks to the idols and the making of gods
• The funny sequence of the character of Lord Shiva and all that follows...
• It was fun to watch Ram Sethi; the comic spark in him is still the same as it was, when he co-starred with Amitabh Bachchan
• Disappointing thing: Perhaps, the second half of the movie could’ve been better, instead of following the Lage raho Munnabhai template... (here it was TV channel instead of FM radio and the presence of Parikshit Sahni in the role of the emotional father)J  

And the surprise element in the climax? For that, just watch the movie, hurry up! for God's sake!

*This is neither a review of the movie nor a critique.

  

On a drippy-droppy, drizzly December weekend

Unseasonal drizzles and rains are fun, coming at the most unexpected times. Unlike the typical nip in the air at this time of the year, last few days in Hyderabad have been cloudy, misty and drizzly. Though I made it a point to enjoy the most of it by driving a little early to office, the regret remained! Watching beautiful skies from the huge glass windows in office often gave me a 'miles-to-go-before-I-sleep' feeling! Hence, it left me craving for more!

Such a lucky thing to have the same weather continue over the weekend. That too, on a day when one is determined to stay indoors for some absolute solitary moments confined to the balconies and the sights and sounds of the neighbourhood that are missed during the weekdays. I'm happy I resisted the urge to go out and get around facing the same vehicles, the same roads and the same shops. And some times it's good not to catch up and deliberately delay some things that need your attention, right? Well, that was the spirit of the day. A quick look at the newspaper and Raghuram Rajan in the headlines: "Make for India" , ok, good, he is talking about the repercussion of the make in India slogan...will read it later, I told myself. Then, a
quick web browse and checking FB: the same Shenaz Treasurywala is trending all over media and social media; well, let's hope she got enough audience for her movie thanks to her sudden and suspect opening-up and concern about some disturbing issues concerning women's safety. A quick catch-up with upcoming PK and reading the interview with Raj Kumar Hirani was worth the time. Leaving aside the same-same things that happen everyday I tried to look for the different in the sameness and here are some precious memories from the day:

• Waking up to the gentle, pleasantly chill breeze and experiencing it all around gave a new twist to the most boring of the daily chores
• Cloudy, hill-station like climate that created a zen-like feeling, made it even more peaceful
• Brewing the ginger tea in such a weather filled the space with a freshly energetic aroma that no room freshener could bring
• Waited for the sun to rise and shine for some dramatic pictures but the reluctant sun was seen for hardly a moment
• The cloudy sky presented a still backdrop an a perfect canvas where I could imagine and paint the pictures of my fancy
• The dusty mint leaves in the pot turned fresh and green with a whiff of misty air and fine drizzle
• The brown patches of newly mowed grass waited early to be watered and cared to turn into a green carpet

As the daylight dims and darkness envelops, the lingering feeling of a day well-spent makes me go back to the book I started reading yesterday; something I need to complete for an important task at work. Now, of course with a fresh outlook with some new ideas and options:)

Sunrise and sunset on a wintry day

Every sunrise

Is a new beginning

That doesn’t end, with sunset

For, the setting sun rises again

With a new strength regain’d

As the sun journeys

From the east to the west

And never does he rest.

Watching the sunrise is such a fest!

Emerging from the verdant shades

Like a tiny orange that is ripe n fresh

Then, with the sparkle of a diamond

The skyscape fills with strokes of rays - golden, bright n brilliant

Overpowering and overwhelming

The blues and grays of a winter morning

Through the thick blankets of fog

Gently appearing from a misty veil

Inspiring, invigorating and reassuring

As the sun moves, so does the clock

Today turns into tomorrow

Today becomes yesterday.

With the setting sun

A new life has begun

In another part of the world

As the rays of the blazing sun

Turn the bright gold to soothing amber

As if the flame is doused

And then it gets aroused

Only to cheer up another life in another land

So what if the sun has set

And my goals aren’t yet met

The sun will rise again

And from my goals I never refrain.