Three Quarters

This year has been great, just not so much blogging wise. Actually it makes sense - I take to writing when I am feeling depressed and lonely, and this year, I haven’t had the time to feel that!

I started making some serious lifestyle changes since December 2015 for my health. Although every year I try something new to make myself stronger, things usually don’t work. This year, however, things have worked in my favour and I cannot be more grateful.

Now I am not hoping for too much, just a little bit of confidence and good results to keep me going is enough. I’ve got that with some consistent hard work, discipline, and learnings from my past experiences. I’ve never ever given up, and that is probably what has helped me this time around.

I started posting food and travel pictures on Instagram recently. We go out a lot and so I thought it would make sense to make use of that. It takes a lot to build a social network on these channels. Although I am not sure if I am up for that kind of dedication, I am glad I started it.

Me and the Boy have also been careful with our expenses this year. We are now going to reward ourselves with an impromptu trip with all the extra savings! After all, there is only so much we need for old age, right?

I’m done with three girlish TV series already this year – Gilmore Girls, Parenthood and Devious Maids. I’ve read nice books but I am still behind my goals. I've made new friends. I’ve been playing a lot of scrabble with a bestie. I’m helping people on Tripadvisor. I read Quora a lot more than I ever did. I tweet more. I’m watching Homeland with the Boy these days – yeah, we’re late with the last season, but it just started looking better. Oh we’re watching Weeds and Narcos as well. Nancy, from Weeds, is so hot!

The last quarter is almost here and we have two trips lined up. Every morning I feel so thankful to God for this wonderful life he has given us. Sometimes it scares me to think if it was just for a short while. And then I realise – we need to relish these moments. Every single one of them. No matter how good or scared I feel, this is for real and God has been very kind.

Movie Review - Pink

5/5 stars.

Pink - the film - is a movie that stays with you even after you leave the theatre. It is a work of art which carries a very important message. It does not preach, it questions your conscience.

Directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, written by Ritesh Shah, and produced by Rashmi Sharma and Shoojit Sircar starring Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari, Andrea Tariang, Piyush Mishra, and Dhritiman Chatterjee, Pink is movie that should be made compulsory in schools, televised often on the small screen and made mandatory for families.

Yes, it is that film.

Pink starts with a party of three men and three women talking in the background. A politically well-connected man gets thrashed by a woman whom he seduces forcibly. What follows are threats, molestation, allegations. The twist here is that the women don't give up and stand on their two strong feet refusing to bow down before the corrupt system and undignified men. 

Amitabh Bachchan, their neighbour and a retired lawyer, stands by these women. The court room drama that follows is what makes this movie a masterpiece. 

Pink talks about the stereotypes we attach with Indian women that make them 'characterless' - short dresses, late night parties, drinking, hanging out with men, losing their virginity early on. Pink talks about how women 'provoke' innocent men. Pink talks about how the modern Indian woman is a stain to the society and what she should and should not do. And then, Pink talks about consent.

It all boils down to consent. The movie doesn't preach how we should judge this independent woman but how her choices must be respected. Every woman can relate to the second half of the movie, and every man can take away so much from it. 

The screenplay keeps you glued to your seats, the performances spellbind you and make you teary eyed, the story is crisp and to the point. I didn't know many actors from before, but each left a mark. Amitabh Bachchan is the greatest actor ever lived - I don't even have words for his contribution to this film and the message he is trying to convey in the way only he could.

I wish every Indian citizen could watch this. We live in times of a new era which is difficult for some to accept. A film like this could help people realise and understand so much. I seriously salute every individual associated with this movie.