Movie Review: Kai Po Che (2013)

Movies based on books are usually a disappointment, sometimes even a disaster. Abhishek Kapoor’s Kai Po Che is one of those rare ones that far surpassed the book it was based on – Chetan Bhagat’s bestseller ‘3 Mistakes Of My Life’.

I did not like the movie as much when I first saw it. But it grew on me later and it was undoubtedly one of the better films of the tear. Here's why:

• Abhishek Kapoor followed the critical and commercial success ‘Rock On’ based on friendship with yet another tale of friends. Same theme at large yet a different magical world

• Despite working with biggies like Farhan Akhtar and Arjun Rampal he chose to work with no established names and went ahead with two debutants and a ‘super talented yet unexploited potential’ actor

• That each of these actors delivered a stand-out performance, complementing each other so well yet leaving one’s own mark

• It is a multi-dimensional tale with many layers (coming-of-age story of three friends – their dreams and aspirations, their pursuit of excellence, their confusions and misunderstandings and their friendship standing the test of time; commentary on the politics of religion and the religion in politics; three real life events – the infamous Godhra riots of 2002, the historic cricket test match between India and Australia at The Eden Gardens and the Gujarat Earthquake – blended so well with the fictional narrative) and yet the film does not lose its track, there are no lose threads

• Each of the three friends represented one side of India – the capitalist Govind Patel (Raj Kumar Yadav), the political Omkar Shastri (Amit Sadh) and the emotional Ishaan Bhatt (Sushant Singh Rajput). All of these aspects were dealt with great clarity and panache

• Realistic depiction of a country’s obsession with cricket

• Amit Trivedi scored a brilliant and mesmerizing earthy soundtrack which comprised only three tracks but left a huge impact. Each song was different from the other and eventually we were left craving for more

• There were many show stealing breathtaking scenes but this just one fabulous scene absolutely stole our hearts away. The entire picturisation of the Meethi Boliyan song, this exchange of dialogues between Rajput and Yadav just before the trio’s jump in the river from stop the fort:

Ishaan: Ise kehte hai life Govind. Tere noton ki khushboo se lankh guna behtar

Govind: Yahan tak aane ke liye bhi mere note hi lagte hain

Ishaan: Tere sikkon ki khankhan se mere hawa ki keemat kam ho rahi hai

• Garba to then the touch-and-feel make out to Sunita Rao’s Pari Hoon Main

• The beautiful cinematography by Anay Goswami which lights up each frame so wonderfully. Ahmedabad is captured like never before

All of this and much more comprised the elements of a film that left a mark on us; a fresh film that charmed us; a film that gave us Sushant Singh Rajput, an actor who has already carved a niche for himself and will sure go a long, long way if he stays grounded.

Rating: 8/10

Movie Review: The Past 2013

Original  Title: Le Passe

Language: French

Is divorce/separation the end of a relationship? Technically yes, but it is, in fact, the beginning of a lot more. This is precisely what Iranian director Asghar Farhadi depicts in his latest domestic drama film ‘The Past’. Also as the title suggests, the movie is about one’s past and how it is never left behind. It has an ability to seep into our present and alter the course of our future.

There are obvious comparisons with his 2011 Oscar Winning film ‘A Separation’. It helps that I have not seen it and hence can analyze The Past in an objective light.

The Past is the story of Marie (Bérénice Bejo), a Frenchwoman, who is trying to finalise her divorce with her husband Ahmad (Ali Mosaffa). Ahmad had left her four years earlier to raise her two children from an earlier marriage (a young girl named Léa (Jeanne Jestin) and a teenager Lucie played by Pauline Burlet) alone in a working-class Paris suburb. Marie is looking to make a fresh start with her live-in boyfriend Samir (Rahman) and his young anxious son Fouad (Elyes Aguis). But is it so simple, a fresh start? Samir himself is dealing with a traumatic unresolved relationship with his wife.

Lives of these individuals are knotted in ways that wouldn’t be fair to explain. However as simple as the plot sounds, it really is not that straightforward. There are layers within layers that spring up unexpected twists and turns and further tangle the narrative thread. There are half-truths, misconceptions, allegations, suspicions and so much more. 

The complicated scenarios, the complex emotions and dilemma of the characters, their angst get you thinking. Divorce and separation, which are an integral part of the Western culture and increasingly gaining prominence in India too, bring a lot of problems and baggage with it. More often than not, children are the worst victims and this is wonderfully portrayed in this film.

All the characters are so wonderfully developed and that is the strong point of the film. Farhadi shows you each character’s perspective and you feel how they would feel. You realize that sometimes no one is to blame, it is just the situation and not much can be done about it. Even moving on is not so easy.

Besides weaving a tale of complicated relationships so wonderfully, Farhadi’s brilliance is evident from the fact that the movie is in French, a language he doesn’t himself speak. But language barrier is not a problem and even the finer nuances are dealt with suitably.

The Past has outstanding performances. While Bejo undoubtedly steals the show, both Mosaffa and Rahman are good, the stars are Fouad and Lucie. Some scenes involving them will spellbind you. Lucie especially is par excellence in her role of the rebellious, angst-filled teenager. Plus she is strikingly gorgeous.

Even though it is out of the race for Best Foreign Language Film, The Past is a wonderfully crafted drama on relationships and emotions. It has a lot to offer and if you are into foreign language films, you have to watch it!

Rating: 7.8/10

I am upset today. It was distressing to hear the news of Paul Walker’s death. Even though I have not seen many of his movies, not even all of the Fast and Furious series, I am saddened to hear of his untimely demise. Plus I also read an article where last year’s Delhi rape victim’s mother speaks her heart out. While reading, there were numerous moments when I paused because I was choked.

My mind was flooded with a series of thoughts and images. [I sometimes marvel at the rapidity of thoughts. One leads to the other and within seconds you are in a maze of thoughts. I’d love to talk more about this but I’ll save this for later.] Both these incidents make me low-spirited. But they also give me an impetus to pen down my thoughts about something I’d been thinking of lately. It is connected to my current state of mind – being sad!

Looking around I see most people sad and distressed. Once in a while it is fine and understood but it’s more of a regular feature. Everyone seems to be caught up with something or the other and dissatisfied with life. They are plagued by many problems such as work, relationships, past issues, finances, self-esteem, future etc. Each person has his/her own way of dealing with things. A few are mentally strong and face these challenges astutely. Some seek to put up a brave face and try to deal with things on their own. The tussle is, of course, visible to only close people if not all. Most others are weak and tend to crib about it.

There is nothing wrong about cribbing. All of us, at some point in life do vent out our frustration and negative thoughts. Even the strongest of people do give in, which is perfectly fine. However what is disturbing is when people tend to create problems on their own. The truth is that not a soul is free of problems, issues or difficulties. We all go through them. So nobody is different in this regard. But what sets people apart is the way they react to situations.

As mentioned above death and rape are two things which not only sadden me but also scare the hell out of me. Death is permanent and cannot be undone. Rape is worse. It leaves a scar which only and only the victim can understand. When people go through such crisis, my heart goes out to them. There are so many other things which make me feel in the same way – a child begging, people digging the garbage to scour for food, the homeless, poor or orphans, terrorism amongst others. Oh there is so much real pain and suffering in this world! However an average person never gives much thought to it. On the contrary he/she is busy complaining about an unkind boss, having to eat boring food, a misunderstanding, not having enough clothes to wear, something someone said, a low-paying job and so much more.

These aren’t real problems. If you are not happy with your work, find another job. If you are not happy working under someone, have the strength to venture into entrepreneurship. Better still follow your dreams and pursue them. Not having enough clothes or eating boring food – really! Think about millions who struggle for a morsel of food and make do with bare minimum clothes. If it is about what people say/said, well we don’t really have a control over what others say. So ignore and move on! If there is a misunderstanding, clear it. Do not sit back and assume things. It only makes things more complicated!

The world is really full of concrete problems and most of us have no inkling of them. So rather than cribbing about what is not right, try and face it. All that is required is a change of attitude. It might not help in putting an end to the problem, but at least it can provide enough strength to deal with the situation. And the next time you think you are sad, think of the more unfortunate ones and you’ll realize you are way better off.

“Life is a bowl of cherries. Some cherries are rotten while others are good; its your job to throw out the rotten ones and forget about them while you enjoy eating the ones that are good! There are two kinds of people: those who choose to throw out the good cherries and wallow in all the rotten ones, and those who choose to throw out all the rotten ones and savor all the good ones.” 

― C. JoyBell C.

Barsaat Aur Birha

Pattiyon ko toh aksar zhadte dekha hai maine
Inme se sundar kuch ko apni kitabon ke beech sambhal kar rakha hai kai baar maine

Tez hawaa ke jhonkon se paido ko bhi girte dekha hai maine
Lekin kal ka nazaara kuch aur hi tha

Garmi se pareshaan main baarish baarish khoob keh rahi thi, intezaar kar rahi thi 

Aur kal jab aayi baarish toh meri khushi ka koi thikana na tha

Lekin kehte hai na har cheez ke do pehlu hote hain 

Yahan main khushi se jhoom rahi thi 

Us barsaat ka lutf utha rahi thi 

Aur wahan kuch bahut dardnaak sa ho raha tha

Kuch samay baad ek ped ko badi behrami se tootte bikharte hue dekha

Patte toh the hi nahi kewal ped hi tha 

Phir bhi kaafi mann bhaata tha 

Kuch alag si kashish thi usme 

Aur main ghanto dekhti thi use 

Bada sukoon mehsoos hota tha

Lekin kal uski chavi ko tootte dekha

Uski do daaliyon ko usse alag hote dekha

Reh reh kar bahut khayal aaye mere mann mein 

Jab choti choti chot pe itna dard hota hai humein 

Toh kaise laga hoga us ped aur uski daaliyon ko 

Inme bhi toh jaan hoti hai na 

Bas ek hi pal mein badal gayi soorat uski 

Kya dard se kharhaya hoga unhone 

Kya bichadne ka gam sataya hoga unhe…

Barsaat tham gayi aur zindagi phir lagi daudne 

Woh waise bhi kahan thamti hai kisi ke liye 

Lekin bahut ajeeb lag raha hai mujhe ab bhi

Us toote hue ped ko dekhkar 

Uski tooti hui daaliyon ko bikhra dekhkar 

Aur jab mujhe lag raha hai aisa toh unhe kaisa lag raha hoga 

Kya woh kos rahe honge us baarish ko 

Ya apni lachaari pe dukh mehsoos kar rahe honge

Jo bhi hai, main mehsoos kar sakti hun unke dard ko 

Ek aah si uth rahi hai 

Aur ab lag raha hai 

Shayad agli baar baarish ko yaad karne se bhi thoda katraongi main!

Happy Birthday Mr. Bose! :)

As I say I am not a huge fan of celebrities barring two people. Coincidentally they are both called Rahul – Rahul Dravid and Rahul Bose. Today this post is dedicated to the latter. To YOU Mr. Bose!

It wasn't a crush or love at first sight. I can’t really pinpoint the first time I saw you (on screen of course), or your first movie that I watched. It was a gradual love affair! The thing that appealed to me most was your speaking skills – that voice, the command over the language, the pronunciation and the expressions. Oh what an articulate speaker you are! I remember those days when I would wait eagerly to watch you speak – be it at an interview or a social event. I would be so awestruck I could just watch you speak the whole day! I still can.

Then came the love for your movies, both mainstream and parallel cinema. One of the first movies to win you international critical acclaim was English, August (1994). It is more than a coincidence that this movie is based on my favourite book ever. That’s another thing that the movie continues to elude me. Don’t know if I will ever be able to lay my hands on it. Then followed so many others – Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, 15 Park Avenue, Before the Rains, Jhankaar Beats, Chameli, Pyaar ke Side Effects, Shaurya, The Japanese Wife, Midnight’s Children and many others. Jhankaar Beats is an all time favourite and it’s one movie I can watch from beginning to end numerous times. As an actor I love your expressions, your sense of humour, the ease with which you slip into a character and your acting of course. You are one of the most versatile actors in Bollywood today.

I like, adore, admire you not just because you are a good orator and actor but for your social activism too. I have seen you at various social events, raising your voice against issues, supporting various causes and so much more. You do it so earnestly. I love the person that you are. You personify handsome. You are the man of my dreams!

Today, as you turn 46, I wish you a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! You continue to inspire and motivate me and I will be your ardent fan for life. Wish you great success, good health, excellent movies and all that you may wish for.

Roman Holiday - A tale of sweet, innocent romance!

I guess I’m in the zone of watching movies I’d always wanted to and which are long overdue. Roman Holiday is one of them. Audrey Hepburn stole my heart with Breakfast at Tiffany’s which I watched earlier this year. Since then I had been eagerly waiting to see more of her. I eventually managed to watch Roman Holiday today and now I am even more in love with her. (Yes I drool over girls too – Julia Roberts, Kareena Kapoor, Chitrangada Singh to name a few :P)

Roman Holiday (1953) is the escapade of the royal princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn). She is in Rome, on the last leg of her Europe trip. She has had a packed schedule attending official functions and meeting dignitaries and aristocrats. As royal and glamorous it may look, she is upset and frustrated with the method life where everything is so ‘wholesome’. Scheduled and monotonous life has bored her to death and she longs for a break. When she breaks down, she is deemed ill and asked to control her nerves. The doctor is sent for, who in turn gives her a sleep-inducing drug to appease her hysteria. However, she manages to escape her country’s embassy at night and sets out to secretly explore the city on her own.

Ann is found sleeping on a bench thanks to the drug. Joe Bradley (Peck), who is an expat journalist working with American News Service, runs into her. He tries convincing her to go home. On failing, he takes her to his apartment out of sheer kindness and concern about her safety. The irony – the royal princess that he is supposed to interview the next day is sleeping in his apartment and he fails to recognize her. It is only when he dashes to his office the following day that he comes to know about it. He is allured at the prospect of making good money by getting a front page, never-told-before-story on her personal life and hurriedly strikes a deal with his editor. He takes the help of his dear photographer friend Irving Radovich (Eddie Albert) to get an exclusive coverage of the personal side of the Princess.

This leads to a 24 hour adventure on the streets of Rome – for the princess it is her first ever venture, exploring places, interacting with common folks, and doing things she always wanted. For the journalist, it is short cut to making quick money and getting a return ticket for America, his native land. He willingly entertains her in the hope of fishing out a meaty story. While the duo manages to photograph Ann smoking, dancing, getting in trouble with the police and much more, an unsaid love blooms between the protagonists. What happens thereafter if for you to watch!

The best part of the film is undoubtedly Audrey’s essaying of the Princess’ role, which won her an Academy Award for Best Actress. In fact, Hepburn was the first actress to win an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award for this movie (Wikipedia). Right from the first frame, when she is shown as the royal princess, she steals our heart away. She looks gorgeous and every inch a princess – stunningly beautiful, delicate and graceful. She has portrayed the various moods so effectively – naive yet teasing when she says to her chaperone, “Did you know there are people who sleep with absolutely nothing on at all”; amusing, charming, playful, shy, innocent and romantic. Little did she or anyone know at that time that the movie would turn her into an overnight star! I am all the more keen to watch her other movies now. Peck is comfortable in his role and supports her well. The chemistry between them is realistic and likeable, especially in the last scene where all the emotion is conveyed through their eyes.

Roman Holiday is first-class cinema with all the elements of a good romantic comedy. The movie is simple, charming and it beautifully portrays the innocent romance of the bygone era. In honour of its 60th anniversary the film just had a rerelease. What a time to catch it, if you already haven’t!

Rating: 8.2/10

Once - A Musical Journey

I had heard the soundtrack of Once long back and loved it. The movie looked good too but I never watched it until today. In between I had heard and read so much about it that expectations were fairly high. And I wasn't disappointed! Being an ardent music lover, I fancy musicals so it was half the battle won. Plus I like the Brit/Irish accent :) However, Once stands out for its simplicity, modesty and earnest performances.

The movie is set in Dublin. Interestingly both the protagonists are not given names. The guy (Glen Hansard) is a street musician who plays the guitar and sings for money at night. During the day, he works in his father’s vacuum cleaner shop. His music attracts a young Czech girl (Marketa Irglova) who herself is a classically trained pianist. She takes him to a piano shop where she often goes to play the piano as she does not own one. It is here that they play a beautiful duet “Falling Slowly” (for which they both received an Academy Award for Best Original Song) and blossoms their short but delightful musical escapade.

The bond over music and he confides about his ex-girlfriend for whom he had been writing songs. She stays in old London and had betrayed him long back. However he is still in love with her, misses her but does not want to go get her. We also learn that the girl sells flowers and cleans a house for a living. She lives with her mother and little daughter Ivonka. Her husband is back in Czech Republic and things are not right between them. The marriage part comes as a surprise for him as he clearly did not expect that. However that doesn't change things between them.

The movie is not ambitious. Their love story is simple and beautiful. Music develops the plot further and all the songs are so beautiful. It helps that all of them were recorded by Glen and Marketa themselves. Neither of them are trained actors but musicians. Maybe that’s why their performances are so realistic. Plus it was during the filming of the movie that the two fell in love. This chemistry is visible on-screen as well. The bitter-sweet ending is realistic. It leaves you touched and happy that you witnessed this musical journey. 

Once is simple and straightforward. It was made on a shoestring budget and shot in merely 17 days with two new actors. And what a swell job done! It is magical and one you bound to get swayed. Once is one of the best musicals I have seen. Highly recommended, especially if you are a music lover :)

P.S. The movie has also motivated me to get going with my guitar practice, which has been moving at a snail's pace recently! :)

A crush!!

I am not a great fan of actors as such, barring the one and only Mr. Bose :D However of late, I've taken a great liking for Riteish Deshmukh, not so much for the actor but more for the person that he is. Not that I know him personally :P But whatever I have been able to decipher while watching the reality show India’s Dancing Superstar (IDS). However that’s not how I always looked at him.

I quite liked Genelia D'Souza especially after Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. She seemed so vivacious, positive and full of energy all the time. So when I heard that she would be marrying Riteish Deshmukh my instant reaction was she deserves someone much better. How did she even fall for him in the first place? It changed a bit when I got to know that they had been dating for eight years. I really appreciated the consistency and when I saw them together on a reality show they looked so much in love. So I thought, well, love conquers all.

That was a couple of years ago. Genelia kind of disappeared after her marriage and I moved on with my life, shuttling between Delhi and Siliguri :P

Next I saw Ritesh on IDS. Initially I only used to watch glimpses or repeat telecasts of this show as the timings coincided with one of my favourite shows ever – Jhalak Dikhla Jaa. I have been an ardent fan of this show right from the first season. True the celebrities in the current season aren’t as exciting, but Madhuri Dixit is enough to keep one hooked to the show. And of course Manish Paul, who I believe is the best anchor in the country today. So there was no way I would miss Jhalak for a new dance show.

That started changing. With every passing week, I started to get hooked on to the show. Not that I suddenly fell in love with Mr. Deshmukh. It was primarily due to the performances, especially those of MJ5, D-Maniax, Loyola Dream Team and Akshay Pal. Every week they would come up with remarkable performances and as the judges say, ‘win me over’. During the course of watching this show, I discovered what an amazing human being Riteish is.

The first time I saw him on the judging panel I thought, like many others, “What is he doing as a judge of a dancing show? Didn't they find anyone better? He doesn't have great dancing skills to boast of.” After watching a few episodes I felt he was doing a great job. And then I started liking him more.

He is always such a sport, going up to the stage every time some participant calls him, mimicking the most difficult of stunts in his own charming style. Then, in one of the episodes, when co-judge Geeta Kapoor praised him for the person that he is, he humbly replied, echoing my previous sentiments. He said that he knew a lot of people had doubts about him being a fit judge for a dancing show. How beautifully he said that he was watching the performances, giving his comments both appreciating and picking faults just like a viewer would do in front of his television set. In that regard he was no different from a viewer. Only that since he was famous he got the chance to be on that seat. That day he completely blew my mind. I fell in love with his humility. I have even switched over from Jhalak to IDS and one of the main reasons is to watch him.

And as I said above, I really like him now. He comes across as a very nice human being. He is witty, humble, sweet, polite and has an amazing sense of humour. Genelia is indeed very lucky to have him as a husband. A couple made for each other :)

Lootera - A Cinematic Excellence!

I had to write this review. Not because I had set expectations and some people were awaiting my review after the FB status. It is purely because I absolutely loved the movie. After having watched it, a couple of people asked me how did I like it and I just said one thing – wait for the review. It wasn’t to create an unnecessary suspense but because there is so much to say, to share. So here it goes.

Lootera is a cinematic excellence. A lot of people would complain that it is slow and thus unbearable. Yes it is – slow, pensive. It is not an entertainer meant for the masses. It is a period film, an art, poetry in motion and the story unfolds at its own pace.

The film is set in two periods in the post Independence era – Manikpur, West Bengal in 1953 and Dalhousie in 1954. The first half of the movie is fresh with some magical moments. In fact I was captivated at the very beginning itself. The instrumental of my favoutite track ‘Ankahee’ played at the outset. I first thought it would be the first song and the movie would go into a flashback, narrating the tale of two lovers. How delighted I was at the thought of hearing the song one more time, that too so early! Despite having listened to it on loop innumerable times I was yet to get tired of it. I remember waiting with bated breath. However that was not to be. And not just that, the song just does not feature in the movie but is a part of closing credit. So much for the excitement! Anyway this was the only let-down if I may say.

Coming back to the plot and the review, with the critical success of his debut film Udaan, Vikramaditya Motwane had set high expectations. And truly he does not disappoint. Of course there are some flaws with the major one being the lackluster (partial) adaptation of O Henry’s masterpiece – The Last Leaf. This short story is so powerful and Motwane sure could have done a better job than making it look like a hurried adaptation. However, the beauty and magic of this period drama completely outweigh and overshadow the flaws. The world of the protagonists – love, passion, agony, disappointment, anger –keeps you hooked.

The movie is picturesque. Manikpur and Dalhousie are totally different landscapes and both have been captured beautifully by Mahendra J Shetty. The music by Amit Trivedi and lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya are exceptional. All the songs are beautifully crafted. Monali Thakur does absolute justice to the beautiful number ‘Sawaar Lun’. Baramade puraane hain, nayi si dhoop hai – How poetical! Another number that I liked is ‘Monta Re’. I have always loved Shilpa Rao’s husky voice and she is good yet again in ‘Manmarziyan’. Even ‘Shikayatein’ and ‘Zinda Hoon’ are good. I love the entire album!

Sonakshi Sinha as Pakhi has delivered a stellar performance. From the privileged, pampered zamindar’s daughter to the immature lover, from the playful, vibrant, mischievous young girl in Manikpur to an ailing, lonely figure and a frustrated writer in Dalhousie – she is very convincing and has essayed the role with a right mix of innocence and sensitivity. I was among the majority of people who felt that although Sonakshi has 100 crore club to her merit, it is mere luck than talent that had got her there. My opinion has definitely changed after Lootera. The credit also goes to the writer for such a well defined role. Kudos!

Two girls sitting beside me labeled Pakhi’s attempts of getting close to Varun as desperate. They couldn’t stop laughing and mocking saying that she was throwing her charms at him in an attempt to seduce him while he wasn’t interested. Well, to some it might seem a desperate attempt of getting physical. But I think there is much more to it. Being a literature student I have learnt to analyse a work of art beyond the obvious. One needs to understand the set-up in which Pakhi has grow-up and lives. Her father is the only man in her life and she has been deprived of any other love. So when she comes across this good-looking charmer, she is bound to be swept off her feet and develop some feelings for this man.

Ranveer Singh as Varun essays his role with conviction and displays the various shades of his character effectively. He is introduced as a polite young boy who timidly seeks permission from the Zamindar for an archaeological dig. Then there is the innocent and mellowed flirting during the painting lessons and beyond. Despite a warning from his partner Devdas, he eventually falls for Pakhi and is torn between love and duty. In the second half he looks confident when he sways to Dalhousie to commit yet another heist. And then the estranged lover wanting to stay back and make amends to his lady love.

The chemistry between the leading pair is not the best that we come across but their individual performances are rocking. Also a great thumbs up for the supporting characters – Barun Chandra as the zamindar and doting father, Vikrant Massey as Devdas, Varun’s accomplice, Adil Hussain as the tough police inspector and Divya Dutta as the compassionate caretaker are all splendid in their roles and leave a mark.

To sum up, Lootera is an art, one which requires patient viewing. It will charm and sway you with its set-up, scenic locales, music, performances – only if you do not have any pre-conceived notions or expectations. Watch it and it will steal your heart!

Happy Friendship Day! :)

Today Facebook is flooded with friendship messages and pictures. I don't really believe in a particular day to express one's feelings, whether it is Friendship Day or Valentines Day. I especially detest forward messages; can't identify with the concept of sending mass messages just because the day warrants so. So I did not call my friends or text them to wish Happy Friendship Day!

However it wasn't always like this and I was poignantly reminded of this today. On my way back in the metro, I spotted a gang of college kids chit-chatting, laughing, celebrating and having fun. They had friendship band on their wrists and a couple of them were carrying lovely bouquets. The excitement and fervour transported me back to my college days.

Those days Friendship Day was an occasion for grand celebration - cards, gifts, flowers, messages, phone calls. Moreover it used to set the tone for my birthday. I remember in 1st year of college, my friends had sent cards by post first for Friendship Day and then for my birthday. So I used to receive 1-2 cards almost every day. Some of the pg girls mocked, some were envious and other just happy about the bond that I had with my friends. They said they had never received so many cards at one time J I really used to be the enthusiastic one, planning and coordinating with everyone, ensuring that I met most of my friends on that special day.

Now we do change with time and today such celebrations do seem kiddish. But does it mean that the day has lost its value just because we have grown up? During college we used to hang around with friends so often. It was then that another special day was not needed for us to express our love for friends.

In today’s busy world, we are barely in touch with our friends. All are busy in their respective lives – martial life, family and kids, career or studies. We all know that we care and love each other but the point is do we express it that often? Do we really get the time and space to do so? So it is not a good reason for us to take out some time and let friends know that they still are an important part of our lives. It might not be important to do it today, but the idea is to just express. And since I already feel it, I might as well do it today :)

Growing up, we do lose out on friends. I have lost a many and it has been tough. However that has only taught me to cherish friends and friendship all the more. To all those who have moved on, I thank them for teaching me this invaluable lesson. To the ones who have stuck and stuck in the real sense, being there always through the thick and thin, well a thank you is just not enough. You still have me, need you more ;) And to the ones who have newly come in, well you should be glad our paths crossed and you got the chance to know the amazing me ;) 

There are some names that have to come in here. Listing them in alphabetical order :)

Apurva – I have found a friend in a brother and what an incredible friend you are! Just love spending time with you, having those ‘intellectual’ conversations and sharing almost everything! Te quiero :)

Bhua – You were the friend that I always had, right from my childhood. I have grown up with you, learnt from you and imbibed so much from you. It’s been a blessing to have you in my life. Besides being an aunt, you have always been a friend. Love you :)

Joyee – It’s always been a roller-coaster ride with you. We are caught up in the web of life and our escapades are not that interesting. Time to add the ‘past’ tadka ;) Love! 

Mona – As I was growing up, I always missed having a sister; someone with whom I could share everything from crushes to heartbreaks, family troubles to personal issues. Someone who would be protective and not have any motive; and most importantly someone who would always be there coz she was family. I no longer miss having one. Love you so much sister :)

Moulshree – It’s commendable how we are yet to have our first fight. Eight years of togetherness. We were kinda lost in between but thanks to whatsapp we are in regular touch now. To more years of friendship! Also now that I am in Delhi, we should meet more often. So lets fix that long overdue trip soon. Dherai maya :)

Munish – I know a lot of people who find love on the internet. I found a true friend. The comfort and ease with which I share everything with you is commendable. You are forever so encouraging and supporting. Thanks for always being there. All our memories have been of the virtual world so far but doesn’t seem like we have not met yet. Having said that, I am really looking forward to seeing you, soon. Love you pal :)

Nicky – Frankly, I really miss ‘us’ – Nicky & Nanny, especially coz I am in Delhi now. I need to take more effort to be in touch. But we have seen worse in terms of no communication, and we will survive this as well. You continue to be my alter-ego girl. Much love :)

Nupur – Oh I am so delighted that you are a part of my life! Did not know back then that a by chance phone call would blossom into this marvellous friendship that we share. I so miss spending time with you. Hopefully we will relive those moments soon. I am truly, truly blessed to have a wonderful friend like you. Love you my honey-bunny ;)

Pranav – We have been going through a rough patch of late, and all thanks to me. Irrespective of that I want you to know that you are a good friend and I care for you. I like that you have an opinion about things and voice it too and that you feel strongly for causes that you believe in. I love having discussions and arguments about almost everything. We have shared good times and I want us to get back to it. I miss those days and now I take the onus. Love you Joshi :)

Shashank – You care for me, you make me feel special, you bring out the best in me (and sometimes the worst) – you just make me feel alive. I am just glad to have you in my life. Love you!

To all my other friends, wish you Happy Friendship day! :)