One by Richard Bach

Richard Bach is not an easy writer to decode. Many have told me that they didn't understand him at all. That they prefer Paulo Coelho to him. I have read many of PC's works, he is about dreams, fantasies and inspiration. While I found Bach more inspiring, challenging and ambitious. His, Johnathan Livingston Seagull is fine. Illusions, one step more better. But the book I recently finished off, One , is remarkable. Not that it has all the answers you are seeking. The reason it is fantastic is, it is not just mere a self-help or inspirational book , it is not even closer to it. It is , in fact, a book of Discovery , of Ideas, of Fantasy and most importantly of Structures. It is a superb amalgamation of literature ( a wonderful narrative pattern ), and science ( fantastic ideas ).

When I started with the book, I broke down at hundred pages, nothing made any sense. I put down the book and didn't open it for almost a couple of months.Yesterday when I did begin reading from where I had stopped, suddenly everything began to make sense. So , I would suggest to those who pick up this book, don't mind initial pages, just keep going on. 

It is funny, that the book at once begins to feel very familiar. It contains the ideas, I had cherished and practiced in my childhood. When I was young and lonely, I would go on the terrace, look at the stars and weave stories around them, think of another world that exists simultaneously, think of the possibility of many lifetimes (in serial). Though Bach tells, we have them not Serial wise, but Simultaneously. 

He talks about Choices. And how they Change the course of our lives. He talks about Ideas and their power. 

Some of the most powerful thoughts are scattered through the pages. 

"One way to choose a future is to believe it is inevitable."

Something echoes through out the book , my philosophy - "Believing is Experiencing."

However crazy it sounds, he conveys his idea that, there are parallel worlds and parallel lives. Our choices change the courses and can take us into any of those worlds. If we focus on our consciousness, and bring it to the highest level, then with our determination and our choices we can even decide to die and not to die. 

At this point, I am reminded of the same notion conveyed by Sri Aurobindo and Mother in their book -Looking From Within, with more emphasis and belief and clarity. 

Our mind has immense power to change the world within and thus, the world outside. And as Bach says, the world is an illusion. It is just a trick of mind. 

One, is not a book of Wisdom. It is a book of Love. You both are not two, the soulmates are One. 

"You need her power. She needs your wings. Together, you fly !"

You are also One with the World you see  (its your reflection), with the people you see (they are your alternative -selves). With the perspective of One-ness, Unity, comes Harmony and Love. And "Your oneness in love is reality, and mirages can not change reality... 

Wherever you go you are together, safe with the one you love most, at the point of all perspective."  

What it is to be a woman (c)

" Every Woman is a Warrior Princess. If she believes in her Divinity, Power, Purity and Purpose of life."

via- vi.sualize.us

What it is to be a woman (b)

" Women are rare. Every female doesn't qualify to be a woman. "

There need to be a Delicate Grace.
There need to be Composure.
There need to be plenty of Art.
There need to be some Virtues of Mother Nature.
There need to be Power, Strength and a distinct knowledge of a way to use it.
There need to be Divine Intuition.

Well, there is no end to it, but we can put one last thing here - That there need to be Integrity.

Now, why Integrity is so important ? Because according to Indian Philosophy, there are two elements in the Universe - Purush and Prakriti. Females have the more of Prakriti and less of Purush. That is why they are more giving, have intuitive powers, they are mysterious and so on... Nature (prakriti) seems to be fragmented but if you look from a little higher , there is integrity in Nature as well. A woman generally by nature is fragmented. She wants to be so much at one time. Her different personalities come in conflict with one another. That is why, they are more confusing, more mysterious, and more interesting obviously. But a real Woman needs to show Integrity in her 'fragmented self'.

What it is to be a Woman (a)

"She was still a girl, still a girl when she was about to enter the sanctity called Marriage. Like a girl she still dreamed of vast blue sky, rainbows and butterflies."

Then one day she realized, what it was to be a woman. She thought being a man isn't the same thing like being a woman. To be a woman you must know, when to think from your brain and when to allow your heart to decide. And I tell you, its the Foremost and Toughest challenge in the way to be a Woman.

vi.sualize.us

Talaash : Where the answer lies?

I guess I have fallen in love with Kareena Kapoor. Whoa! she IS an Actress, that too a very scintillating. Though the script of "Heroine" was very lousy but Kareena came out of it shining like the moon. In "Talaash" , she just did it Awesomely. How perfectly she fits in the character. No wonder, after Chameli and a little similar part she plays in "Heroine", she had to be perfect in the prostitute's role. 

Talking about "Talaash" as an impact, I would say, it just hits you on the right spot. A man's logical mind clashes with a woman's believes. But Talaash is not simply the story of " turning an unbeliever into a believer ". It is about something more. 

When Aamir shouts on Rani dragging her out of that Spirit Caller's house, and telling her, being a science teacher how can she believe in such crap. At that moment, Rani tells him, " I find happiness in this." You also do in which you find happiness. Here the story shifts from the theme of 'Belief' to 'Happiness'. We believe in something because it satisfy our urges, it gives us happiness and it is so plain that you can either be too logical or happy. 

There is one more important point in the movie. Which has touched me beyond anything. The Spirit Caller says, ' We don't choose ou lives, life chooses us.' It is an answer to most of our questions in the world -like -  'why me?' Because this life has chosen you and what you could do, can do n will do - no one can take your place n do your work. 

" If the life has chosen you, and not you  have chosen the life, there shall be no regrets but only looking forward to how you can come up to Life's expectations from you. At least you can try your best " ;)

P.S. ~ Don't forget to notice the caption - "The Answer Lies Within". Your Talaash for whatever it is , will only get a going with a ' Sign ' your heart gives you. 

The Magic of YJHD lies in ...

So finally I watched YJHD today. This is a universally loved movie, but not for a universal theme. I bet, everyone liked this movie for his own reason. What was my reason then? Why I liked this movie? Or rather, why this movie made me dance for a while, made me buzz my friends n shower kisses n love... what was the magic? 

I dunno about the world - the big world on map. But I know about my friends and the little world we have and each one of them, wants to run away, to visit the exotic places, wants to have different experiences, fulfill their dreams - everyone wants to fly high breaking the chains of responsibilities behind and that's exactly what the movie portraits through the character of Ranbir (Kabir) . Dreaming is not wrong, but then what's wrong with him?  Instability. 

Well, unexpectedly it is not Ranbir or Deepkia I could co-relate to . It was Kalki. Yes. Recently even I took a decision that turned my life Upside-down. That brought me - ME- the banjaara types-  back  to home, back to normal life with friends and family, life full of love and togetherness, life of slow but steady growth, life of Stability and Sincerity. 

There are two favorite quotes of mine from this movie - first ,

 " jitna bhi try karo bunny life me kuch na kuch toh chhutega hi , toh jahan hain wahin ka maza lete hain na..." (Deepika - YJHD) 



and second, 

 " kuch logon ke sath sirf waqt bitaane se sab thik ho jaata hai..." (Kalki - YJHD)

Kalki had loved an old buddy but it was on sided love. When she met an engineer through her parents and spent time with him, she realized ; probably what I realized myself, when someone loves you, cares for you, calls you his own and commits to spend whole life together no matter what - you know where your happiness lies. 

You know what, the chase still goes inside my soul, there is still the times of chaos and struggle, but I am glad - I am out of the confusion , and in spite of Million dream lives I wanted to live, I have chosen one dream for this life - the dream of love n cozy companionship. 

The magic of YJHD lies in its message, which the youngsters getting crazy after their freaky dreams need badly today. And the message is - you can not have everything in just one life. If you will run after having all and fulfilling all dreams of yours, you will end up losing all in the end. Not wanting to miss anything, will make you miss a lot in life. So rather than having-all , just have what you have and live it to the fullest. Choose one frame, Accept the limitation, and Paint the best Possible picture. 

Heroine

The movie - Heroine.

A story of the struggle of a heroine.

Just that?

No... it is about fears, insecurities ... you can't trust anyone around you. It is about making a mistake, going into depression, and trying Gracefully to come over it. You know what this movie is about, it tells you, its okay, its okay to commit a mistake, and its never too late.

 No one would understand why you like a certain film, they think you have been fooled or you are over emotional. They don't realize, somewhere it brings to your conscious, some "unconscious urge", they don't understand, you relate to a certain character so well, that you forget about the narration, the slow line story or any damn thing. Only thing that matters to you is, you feel what character feels. You learn a thing for
yourself or what you should do, through a Reel life character.

Well, Kareena is really A STAR.

Johnathan Livingston Seagull and Tuesdays with Morrie

 I read two great books today -

1. Johnathan Livingston Seagull (Richard Bach)

2. Tuesdays with Morrie ( Mitch Albom)

In months, today had been the day I realized, I am the same girl who was five years back. Engrossed in a book, lost the track of time and thinking a lot about life.

I want to talk about these books, although I haven't even talked to myself yet. I can't point out at one thought. But yes, there was something in both the books that made me feel good in many ways.

Johnathan Livingston Seagull is a superb fable that tells you, "heaven is not time, it is not some space, it is perfection." and that " it is for the joy of flight that you fly." and that, ultimate lesson is that of love and compassion, and you don't go up in heaven, but you come back and see good in everyone and see what they can become rather than what they are. But it also tells something more, something subtle, something hard to believe at first and pushes you to try your limits...for that , you have to read the book yourself.

Tuesdays with Morrie is a kind of book, you would love to read again and again in any point of your life, and specially, when you are going to shrink in your body. A dying professor gives his Last lessons to his favorite student about the meaning of life and the meaning of death and lots of in between. It is a very common book, specially for those who have lived in Indian society because they inherit the values of love, relationships and family. But still, the book has much to tell you which you tend to forget in your busy lives.

What being a woman is for me.

What beauty is in there to hold on to your childhood? To hold on to something which is gone, is to "be the native of No Land". People say they don't want to grow up, they want to be still a kid they were. But what good will it do? Beauty is in to flow with the current. If you are on a journey and , childhood was a beautiful country, why you want to stuck up there, the next station may be as beautiful as the last was. 

When I was still a teen, friends would tease as to, oh you have become an aunty ;  ah what crap! you want to marry ; oh there is no fun to celebrate at home.. and so and so... pub, dance, drink, hang-outs, movie, multiplexes, chatting, messaging were the highlights and of course " I want to make a boy friend was a pet dialogue". But would it seem proper to behave the same when you are twenty two? 

At the beginning of my teen, I was almost rebellious and my pet dialogue was-" I hate society". If society thought I should dress up like a girl, I would wear faded jeans and take a boy-cut hair style. At the end of my teen, I thought, the youth is superb, it should never end, I wanted to be as Ir-Responsible, as Careless , as 'Never-Mind' as I can. I craved for an Escape. My fantasies knew no bound. I counted experiences as I counted friends. I wanted More and More and More of all things under the sun. At one moment, I wanted to Live fullest, and just another, I wanted to Die. I suffered from mood-swings. But still, I wanted to be a Girl and I thought Marriage would end it all, staying with parents will kill my Freedom. 

And then there came a moment. I don't know when it came. I can't exactly trace it. But it came slowly and only right now I can talk about it. I couldn't even tell or rather admit this to my friends that now a days, I feel like a woman. Why? What changed? How it happened?  All of these questions can be clubbed into one question - What being a woman is for me? 

So, What being a woman is for me? 

Being a woman is like being a mother. It happens. It is a subtle thrilling feeling. It is miraculous. You become aware of your Wholeness. Remember, 'whole' comes from the same root as 'holy'. You don't care about the contrary opinions. You just listen to them and being unable to make them understand, you just smile and go on. Being a woman doesn't mean you have grown old, dull or boring. But you have opened yourself to the new experiences. It only happens to those who flow with current. Who do not cling to anything 'good or bad'. Who are Natural like trees who do  not stop to grow taller or become fatter, like river who do not say, I don't want to run out of this city. Being a woman is, to humbly accept the responsibilities. And certainly, a woman's responsibilities are much more than hat of a man. A man can, to some extent, afford to be irresponsible but a woman can not. 

A woman is made differently. A man can experience only a few body reactions inside, but to a woman, a whole new world opens up inside. To, what is considered Impurity from Divinity , she experiences all inside her. For me being a woman is, to have immense faith, devotion, tolerance and patience. Only a woman can take all into her being and still have her integrity. When a girl realizes her woman-self, she turns into the most graceful being. 

Satyam Shivam Sundaram

I happened to watch this movie , Satyam Shivam Sundaram , yesterday. It is a beautiful movie. And more so ever, when you realize it has very universal themes. I wanted to write the "emotional reaction" in Hindi, but I decided to write it in English, so that I can convey my message to a wide audience. Specially to those, who wouldn't ever watch this movie.

The movie is directed by Raj Kapoor and acted by Shashi Kapoor and Zeenat Amaan. It is one of the best movies of its time since it conveys a universal message, which in my simple words, is that beauty is not what eyes see, but it is the Truth which heart feels. Doesn't it remind you John Keats?

" Beauty is Truth, Truth beauty ;
That is all ye know on earth,
And all ye need to know. "

I had misunderstood the Keats' message at first, due to my own inferiority complex, perhaps. But the movie captures and justifies with its message completely. Beauty is an idea and our idea of beauty is a reflection of our own heart and soul.

" ye dariya jo tujhe moh leta hai,
dil bhi tera ek dariya hoga ... "

The hero of the movie, is influenced  by his own idea of beauty , of whose glimpse he finds in a village girl, Roopa. Roopa is considered an ill-omen by birth and her face was disfigured by an accident in childhood .No one in village is ready to marry her.While a town boy, Rajeev asks her hand from her father. She refuses to marry Rajeev. But she is married to him. Rajeev when discovers that his wife has an ugly face, he disowns her saying, you are not my Roopa. The Roopa (the idea of his beauty) of his mind does not match with the real life disfigured Roopa.

There is a striking conflict between Idea and Reality. Roopa is awestruck. She has no other option to split herself as Mehbooba and Wife. Rajeev loves her as Mehbooba, meeting her under the bushes when the sun sets. And discards her as Wife, leaving her alone to cry over her destiny. He doesn't realize both are the same person.

There lingers the clouds of pathos in the story at this point. There is also an irony here, a striking one. Rajeev asks his Mehbooba to show her face, while at home he doesn't even bother to look at the face of his wife. Here comes a song... a pathetic , deeply agonizing song, presenting the two point of views.

" Woh Aurat Hai Tu Mehbooba
Tu Sab Kuchh Hai Woh Kuchh Bhi Nahi ... (sings the hero)

Woh Aurat Hai Main Mehbooba 

Woh Sab Kuchh Hai Main Kuchh Bhi Nahi ... (sings the heroine) " 



The most touching nerve of this song is - She is your wife , therefore she is everything. The beloved is same, but the love given in marital relation is much more pure, respectful and enduring. When Roopa's reality of split persons is discovered by one of the servants of Rajeev, and he asks Why? She says, what is not given to me being a Lawful wife, I had to take it by being a Whore. It is her faith, her hope that one day Rajeev will accept her as she is. One day he will realize she is the one whom he loved.

The situation is in literary terms called, Dramatic Irnoy. When the actual situation is known and understood by audience but not by the characters. We know the Mehbooba and Wife are the same person, there is only one Roopa but Rajeev doesn't realize it. The best thing about it is. there is a multiple layer of meaning in this situation.

1. We as human beings , always look things by splitting them into two - Day - Night, Good - Evil , Beauty- Ugly. But the Truth is one. The both things are same, two sides of a Coin. Not even the two sides, just a thin veil of Illusion.

2. We as human beings are fallible. We have an idea of beauty and happiness in our mind, and keep hunting for it through out our lives, like a Kasturi Mrig but what we dose not strike us is, we could have found (or create) beauty and happiness in things that are just there in front of  us.

3. Like Rajeev wandered here and there in search of beauty, but overlooked what was in front of him. Most of us do ignore what is in front of us, and keep looking all life, what is not there.

The dialogues are heart touching. Specially, that are spoken by Zeenat Amaan. She says to Rajeev, you could have found at home, for what you wandered in Jungles.

When he disowns her publicly, pronouncing that you are bearing an illicit child. She says, " Dil ke tutne ki aawaaz nahi hoti, lekin jab wo tut.ta hai to jaljale aa jate hain, tufaan aa jate hain..."

The songs are as meaningful and touching as the movie . You can't miss the title track , and specially these  lines - Radha mohan sharanam , satyam shivam sunderam...

Ajintha: An Untold Love Story

Ajintha : An Untold Love Story directed by Nitin Desai is a Brit-Marathi movie.
This I watched at JIFF (Jaipur International Flim Festival) .



" Story: Known for its classic beauty world-wide, 'Ajintha' caves came into the limelight in 19^th century. What happens after that when a British officer Robert Gill (Philip Scott Wallace) comes to replicate the world-famous sculptures with the help of a tribal woman Paro ( Sonali Kulkarni) is the story of 'Ajintha'. " (TOI) 

The beginning is quite robust, and slowly it takes u in for a sensual and spiritual ride to discover the heights of love and devotion. What I liked best is, the entanglement of Buddha's Message , the Jatak-Kathas , and Buddha's own personal story with the love story of Paro, the tribal girl and Major Gill. Where on hand it reveals the love between two people who can;t even understand each other's language and on the other hand society's rules and intolerance over such love.

A parallel in the story could be Buddha's own tale. Like Buddha leaves Yoshodhra n Rahul behind to pursue his own duty n calling, Robert Gill also leaves behind Paro to organize an exhibition of Buddha's paintings in London, to spread Buddha's message. Another prominent theme of the movie is - Faith.

After Paro's brother has sold her to the Mukhiya, she has devoted herself to the Buddha. Its her faith that she has been chosen for this work, and its her faith in Buddha as well that stops herself to become a hindrance in Gill's path of spreading Buddha's message. She is an epitome of Innocence. She devotes herself like a flower on Gill's feet.



The power of movie lies in the strong amalgamation of sensuality and spirituality. As an audience you feel a sudden urge to live life one moment, and on next you experience the depth of devotion, sacrifice and heights of love. This is an amazing piece of Art and Cinema. Specially an achievement of Marathi Cinema. 

Midnight's Children - Watch it just while you are reading the book

A very Engaging movie. A true Indian Masaala blended with infinite names and fantasies. *oh i can smell the movie...its the roasted beef with paanipuri masaala. Oopz.*  The movie is a treat for those who didn't understand the book, at least they can flaunt what the work is about. The movie is also a Must-Watch for those who don't know Shabana Aazmi, Rahul Bose, Siddharth or Darsheel Safary. Or if you are from SRK camp or Fans of the-heroins-who-don't-know-how-to-act , please watch it. There is Solid acting by Solid horde of actors.

Let me tell you, what to expect from the movie, nothing... nothing but entertainment. Its a pack of entertainment. And yes, a bit of history and fantasy too. But the magic n dream stuff is really a Thing, and now you realize, why the heck it got the biggy award, and the Man biggy, i mean the Booker award.

Undoubtedly, screenplay was written very well. After all, Salmaan knew what all parts are worthy to showcase. If you ask me, what I remember after a day of watching the movie- I would say- Enlightenment. Sudden enlightenment of - - - oh...okay so this was the story, I wonder where was it lost when I read the novel. Alright , there was one more thing - the bed-time song - You can be what you want.... I could feel this was also in relation to - India, as a nation. The movie ends on a happy and hopeful note.

Anita Majumdar as Aunt Emerald

Among star cast , I guess the best acting was done by Anita Majumdar , an Indo-Canadian actor, who played Aunt Emerald. The movie is worth watching. Under the heavy names of Salmaan Rushdie n Deepa Mehta, it has to be, isn't it? 

I am Fool

I was thinking about this for a long, but couldn't find time to pen down my thoughts. Yesterday I was reading about Socrates. It was said, that once this word went on around Athens that Socrates is the wisest in the whole country. Many disbelieved it along with Socrates, so he decided to test wise men in order to prove that he is not wisest in the country. He tested many but they turned out to be not so Wise and at last he sighed and said, alright, I think I am the wisest because at least I know that I Don't Know Everything.

People are arrogant because they think they have knowledge. There are also another kind of people, who are arrogant because they have Knowledge-Thirst. Now this is utterly funny. To me, knowledge is really not everything. One man , who thinks he has all knowledge of the world is nothing for example, if he doesn't understand why his baby is crying or when to speak and when not to.

I have analyzed many strange people and after thinking for months I have come to this conclusion (after years the conclusion may again change, but anyway) To me, an integrated personality would include below points in their order -

1. Knowing your priorities
2. Knowing your responsibilities
3. Knowing what to say and when.
4. Being Positive and Having Problem solving attitude
5. Trying to Improve everyday

* The wise men always speak less, listen more, and express liking and disliking even rarely.

Now let me explain it, those who speak a lot, like,  enthusiastically about the world, its problems, what they like and do not like, how things go about, what went wrong, what was best and so on till the day they die ... they are actually proving (almost every human being, including me) they are Fool, because at one moment you say , this world is Illusion, and next moment you take it for Real. And the most foolish living being on earth ,  call himself, knowledgeable , wise, great...or want to be...

P.S. - she laughs, looks up at the sky, gazes at the stars and at the mystery twinkling through them, she calls them, calls to the wind - 'I am fool, and I am grateful.'