Tuesday, 2 July 2019

Movie - Pretty Woman

   I am sure most of my readers have already watched and admired Pretty Woman and don't need my views, but there's something magical about it that made me pen it. This movie makes you fall in love from the first frame itself, its honesty, lucid execution is admirable. Writing about the two wonderful actors Julia Roberts, who enchants you with her eyes and through her infectious smile and Richard Gere, the handsome hunk of the '90s is a perfect recipe for Romantic drama. This movie, however, is more than Romance, it soaks up your negativity, the hollowness of heart and rekindles the desire to be hopeful, the desire to be kind. It makes you believe good often happens miracles do happen.

This movie is a sweet reminder to believe in good and be good, an antidote for an unpredictable world. The story can be summarized as a millionaire hires a prostitute while on a business trip for one night but decides to encash her beauty for improving his public appearance, but in the end, he couldn't stop himself from falling in love with her. A perfect evening watch with or without your partner, a must-watch for Romantic-Comedy genre fans.

Movie - Cold Pursuit (Review)

                Cold Pursuit drew my attention because of Liam Neeson, his awe-inspiring performance in many action flicks, made me admire his movies. But, this was one of the most disappointing, distasteful movie, a complete waste of time for Liam fans like me. I fail to understand if it was a revenge drama or child custody drama of a narcotics lord who's surrounded by gay bodyguards or gang war based where gangsters play with ice or something else as there were few more plots interwoven making it truly bizarre. After 15 minutes, one can only wonder, how a trailer can entice you into wasting your precious time and money on watching dog-shit. 

  It was stupid and arrogant for makers to make such a movie and expect people to watch it. To begin with, it was a revenge drama the only problem was without a script and poor execution. I have always enjoyed Liam Neesom, but this movie is two hours of torture and would not divulge anything more about plot, performance, etc. My advice is, one should avoid this movie. 

Friday, 15 March 2019

My Journey Towards Right

                                    Perception plays a significant role in deciphering the outcome of events. Our mind is influenced by umpteen number of factors some of which are true while others ‘managed’. This is why, perhaps, Shri Krishna had to enlighten Arjun in the middle of the battlefield, as Arjun’s mind was compromised. In today’s environment, we are exposed to biased and sponsored programs, camouflaging and manipulating thought processes. In our country the game has been played by vested interests from the very beginning with such perfection, that will make Joseph Goebbels look like a miniature. Such was the intensity and impact of news during those days, that it wasn’t unusual where we were made to question our beliefs and sometimes defeat the very people who work for us.
                                 As a teenager growing up in a small dusty town in UP, I was comfortably a left-leaning individual with scanty respect for traditions and religion. While obtaining most of my information through people and a few media outlets (as only a few were available) had no inhibitions in undermining the sanctity of right ideology as that was the coolest thing. Snubbing such ideas and people were considered a rationale, although with minute info and facts without any independent source to corroborate. With time as my interest in politics and history grew, I wasn’t confined to a single source and started reading from different sources of information (due to economic liberalization different media outlets sprang up) providing divergent views, thus opening my horizon to disseminate and understand the world around me in more fruitful way.
                                 I was a mere observer as the world around was unfolding also was made aware of past instances in our history which rudely jolted me. I wouldn’t name a single instance but numerous present and past deeds of left-secular cabal when confronted acted as an eye-opener and facilitated and cemented my belief diametrically opposite to leftist ideology. With time as the right-leaning ideology gained central ground, although standing on sidelines was astonished and deeply disappointed when corrupt, incompetent, criminal, seditious elements cobbled together to stitch a rag-tag coalition to safeguard secular ethos of our nation. This was the proverbial last straw when in the name of protecting unity and integrity, a greedy coalition was forcefully shoveled down the throat of Indians.
                               My resolve to find parallel ideology drew me towards right, although am never fully convinced and supportive of everything that gets propagated from them. My disillusionment with left and so called secular podium increased further after learning about the plight of Kashmiri Hindu exodus, Marad massacre, Shah Bano case (Govt wilted to appease), Ayodhya firing incident, ridiculing Hindu culture in literature and media and many such devious acts that were brushed under the carpet in the name of secularism. Such was the farcical narrative of political class that the synonym of secularism became corruption and incompetence. The left oriented cabal has mainstreamed Hinduphobia and hatred for anything that ordinary Indians can take pride in. This notorious group is indoctrinated and so radicalized they never acknowledge violence unleashed by naxals and are apologetic towards Islamic terrorism.
                             The concocted history text books authorized by left-leaning historians have prepared the groundwork for future generations to embark on. Only free flow of information and independent historical work has decimated the web of lies meticulously spun by them. The unexpected and unprecedented expansion of the right wing social forces in India is a testimony to the anti-people and anti-secular hegemonic policies adopted by the cabal. The social, cultural, religious and politico-economic order was created to suit their narrative. The left cabal in the garb of liberalism is surprisingly devoid of nationalism and patriotism which led to the rise of the right (although I prefer being called centrist) who are forced to rebut the leftists. In their rigid minds to rundown divergent views , different epithets are coined and used by cabal , but the more left try to tease people by calling them "bhakts", the more they loose the plot.

Image Courtesy - Google 

Wednesday, 6 March 2019

The Secret of the Nagas (Review)

                            'The Secret of the Nagas' is the sequel to the book 'The Immortals of Meluha', in the Shiva Trilogy by Amish Tripathi. The Secret of the Nagas starts exactly where The Immortals of Meluha ended. Continuing in his journey Shiva, a Tibetan immigrant revered as ‘Neelakanth‘ the savior by Suryavanshi and Chandravanshi peoples alike continues his tirade against evil who was none other then Nagas according to perception. Alongside, Shiva was engrossed in his individual battle to try and determine the demons within himself and annihilate disturbing thoughts by searching for answers plaguing his mind. Like the first part, the story forwards the next set of incidents that confronts Shiva while he's traveling across the length and breadth of the country searching for the truth.
                           After Swadweep's defeat in the war against Meluha, and meeting some of the people at its capital in Ayodhya, Shiva realizes that the Chandravanshis (Swadweepans) are not evil as propagated but had a different way to lead life. He is now convinced, that it is the Nagas who are evil and his battle is against them. Shiva seeks vengeance against the Nagas for it was a Naga attack on Mount Mandarin Meluha which led to the death of Brahaspati the scientist and also Shiva's close friend. Meantime, Sati unearths startling discoveries about her Suryavanshi heritage and discovers several long-lost relatives creating a wedge between Shiva and herself. While on one hand Shiva feels compelled to reassess his beliefs due to unfolding circumstances, Maharishi Bhrigu has added new dimensions to the mystery with his strange demands making the plot murkier.
                       Although the author has ingeniously added several twists and turns but it still failed to create and maintain the same feverish tempo as was demonstrated in the first part. Story genuinely lacked uniqueness and looked shallow at times, although the author's attempt to maintain momentum with masala is recognizable. The overall author hasn't deviated much from the plot in his zeal to add spice and substance thus compelling enough for readers to look forward for last installment of Shiva Trilogy.