Book review: ‘Ladies Tailor’ by Priya Hajela

First and foremost, I must apologise to the author and to Blogchatter for this excruciatingly late review. 

There is a backstory to this delay, which includes the book changing hands and travelling across continents ( from my home without my knowledge). But more on that later. Let’s skip to the more fascinating story, the one by Priya Hajela. 

Title: Ladies Tailor 

Author: Priya Hajela

Publisher: HarperCollins India

Pages: 304 pages 

Price: Rs 300 (paperback), Rs 223 (kindle edition) 

‘Ladies Tailor’ is a story about a man on a mission, traveling across enemy lines amidst the tumultuous aftermath of partition. Gurdev Singh (the protagonist) takes on the risky task of traveling to Pakistan in search of two embroidery artists who are needed to kick start his small joint-business of stitching ladies clothing with two of his refugee friends, Nirmal and Sangat Singh. 

The interesting motley of characters at the refuge camps and their individual stories reveal the dismal condition of those who were forced to travel east, the brutality of the ensuing riots, and other hard hitting facts that occurred post-partition; this with no obvious bias towards any particular religion or community. 

The author’s attention to detail stands out in the way the author has described impressive details of the times and the Sikh community, like the starched vs. unstarched turbans, how turbans were tied, how different people wore their beards, the neatly combed netted version vs. the bobby pin version, vs. the unkempt, loose version—-the language and imagery employed paint a picture that transport one into the story and makes it befitting for a motion picture. 

The pages are peppered with lump-in-the-throat moments like when Gurdev sees his parents houses burning, and later, when he and his wife and children walk to the very front of the kafila and woke up at sunrise to begin walking, when his wife, Simran, struggles in silence, in sickness, without uttering a single word to a preoccupied Gurdev, about the dismal condition in the rescue camps with a lack of adequate toilet facilities. However, ‘Ladies Tailor’ is not just about that. It is an adventurous cross border rescue mission story. It is a story about friendship and gratitude. About love against societal  stereotypes. About truth, gender equality, sacrifice. 

As the story progresses, different facets of Gurdev’s personality are brought to light, which make you hate and love him in equal measure. You despise him for being indifferent towards his wife, but you also feel sorry for the state of mind he is in. You are mad at him for not being evocative and expressive, but then you love him for his stoic nature, and never-say-die attitude, his gentlemanly silence to betrayal, heartbreak, and temptation. His mature reformation when Simran leaves him, kids in tow is admirable. Instead of being shattered or jaded by the shock of betrayal, Gurdev seeks to improve himself and gradually changes into a man who is more sensitive to the emotional needs of a woman. 

While Gurdev struggles with his internal demons alone, he is also kept company by the friendships he forges along the way.  Especially heartwarming among these is the friendship between him and Nirmal and Sangat, and his chemistry with Noor, a war widow who manages to steal his heart with her forthright and audacious nature. 

His camaraderie with the refugees, the subtle romance with Noor, the ribbing, and friendly teasing; all these provide a warm vibe to the story. Gurdev’s life gets interwoven with theirs and embarks on the rescue-mission, for business, for friendship. Which eventually helps him make peace with his own demons and have a second chance at life and love. 

The high and low moments of adventure and emotions qualified for a well spun narrative inspiring in the reader the hope of starting over, of overcoming  loss; both personal and professional, of breaking to pieces and still gathering the courage to come together once again. 

The only regret I had was a sudden surprise of an ending. I hadn't  seen it coming for the next 5-10 pages and bam! It was there. A little too abrupt for a neatky tied wrap with no definitive ending for the personal stories of the motley of characters that were fleshed out so well in the beginning and middle that I'd expected at least a mention at the end. But it got me wondering whether the author was planning on a sequel. 

If there is one, it would be something to look out for.  

Personal rating: 4 out of 5 

Shopping link: Check it out here. 

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This post is powered by Blogchatter Book Review Program. The views in this review are solely mine. 

#CauseAChatter: 'Cobalt Blue' - a movie on gender identity and some afterthoughts.

The month of June is commemorated as Pride Month, a month that is celebrated world wide, with LGBTQ+ friendly cities sporting rainbow parades and gay marches to ahow their solidarity towards an inclusive environment. 

On a similar sentiment, I got about watching  ‘Cobalt Blue’ on Netflix. Having read the novel a while ago, the onscreen adaptation had piqued my curiosity. 

For the uninitiated, ‘Cobalt blue’ is a movie adapted from the eponymous novel written by Sachin Kundalkar.

The movie is directed by the author himself, and was released on Netflix only in April this year. 

Starring Neelay Mehendale, Prateik Babbar, Anjali Sivaraman, Cobalt blue is a Bildungsroman story about Tanay and his tomboy sister Anuja, falling in love with the same man, their paying guest.

From the very outset, the film deals with the topics of gender identity, infatuation and heart break, ealt with in an utterly sensitive and poignant fashion.

There are instances when the chemistry between Tanay and his love interest remind you of ‘Call me by your name’, another famous book-to-film adaptation on the same topic.  

Interspersed with heart-tugging poetry penned by Tanay, the film offers a window into the minds of the LGBTQ+ community, that often goes ignored in a society like ours.

Prateik has played the role of a philandering artist to the T. Being a vagabond of sorts,  betrayal seems expected. However, the film is more about the aftermath, the response, rather than the heart break. 

Both siblings are fighting an internal battle of their own. However, Tanay’s struggle seems more painful, his grief more intense, since he, unlike Anuja, does not have the same privilege of expressing his feelings, even when in love. 

And that got me pondering on the hypocrisy of the society we live in, how it deems anyone who isn’t like the majority as a deviant. How it is inconsiderate towards the LGBTQ community, treating them as outcasts.

We often mistake  gender to be binary, often ignoring or overlooking those who are gender fluid or gender nonconforming, not realizing what turmoil we may be causing them. All this for no fault of theirs. They who are created by the same God, they who are as much a part of society as us. 

Cis and trans are two sides of the same coin, called human. Then why the bias! 

Honestly speaking, no matter how unbiased I claim to be, some scenes of the movie made me uncomfortable.  When Tanay and exchanged tender kisses, oil massages, and warm hugs,  which made me ask myself if I would be squirming as much if it was a man and woman playing a love scene on screen. Then why was I uncomfortable watching two consenting adult men do the same? 

When I got that mind block out of the way, I could watch the movie for what it was…a love story. 

As compared to the West, India still has a long way to go when it comes to inclusiveness. This bitter fact is brought out beautifully in the scene where a senior professor (played by Rajkumar Rao) breaks down and confesses that being gay feels criminal in this country. 

Truth be told, we may have managed to scrap off section 377 from the IPC, but we still need to scrap it off from our minds. Only then we will be able to hope for an inclusive environment. 

Talking on gender identity should be encouraged and not be treated as taboo.  Public and private establishments, cafes, restaurants, transport, etc should be as welcoming to trans folks as they are to cis individuals.  

“Tum hi batao, tay  kar lo, tum raasta  ho  ya  ho manzil...” 

These lines reflect the trepidation, the insecurity, the inhibition, not just when it comes to love but also about loving in a society that does not make one feel safe and welcome. 

The definition of love changes as the protagonists mature with age and experience, from ‘love is a habit’ to ‘love makes you stronger’. 

The fact that the professor’s advances are declined by Tanay is evident of the fact that gay love is no different from hetero-love and that one cannot share the same chemistry with everyone. 

Another poignant moment in the film that stayed with Mr long after it had passed was when Anuja asks her friend how long a relationship should survive for the world to consider it a ‘good’ relationship’. 

The delicate way in which the two siblings handle the heart break, the maturity that Tanay shows despite loving unconditionally, and the growing up that happens in the process, all send across a clear message...we may not always understand people and their choices, but that does not mean we cannot respect them. 

If a movie can show so much maturity, why can’t we? 

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This post is part of Blogchatter’s CauseAChatter.

#Tribhanga - a film review

Renuka Shahane’s directorial film ‘Tribhanga’ is a film that spans across three generations, with a conflicted mother-daughter relationship at its core and an insight into people and their coping mechanisms. 

The story line: 

Nayan Joshi is a talented writer trapped between domestic responsibilities and her true calling. And somewhere down the line has to choose between the two. Being the free spirit that she is, she chooses to go with her dreams, uprooting the lives of her two children, Anu and Ravi, who she takes along with her. 

Anu and Ravi, however, can never forgive her for the consequences of her decisions, for which they believe they had to pay the price.

Until there is a confrontation in the most unfortunate circumstances...

The cast/performance: 

In the movie, there is a dialogue where Anuradha Apte talks about her relationship with the two women in her life, where she describes her mother, daughter, and herself with the help of three poses in traditional dance form —-Abhanga, Samabhanga, and Tribhanga respectively. 

‘Abhang’ (slightly off-centre) — Tanvi Azmi plays the role of a genius writer who, like most geniuses, is not spared of idiosyncrasies. She is cerebral but sometimes fails to see what is in front of her. She hates monotony. Azmi has played her part to perfection with her ageing face revealing just the right amount of regret and pride. 

‘Samabhang’ (well balanced) - played by Mithila Palkar who is Anuradha’s seemingly balanced daughter ‘Masha’. I felt her performance was forced in parts. But that could also be because she hardly had any lines to spout. She could have done better. 

However, the entire responsibility of the film lies on, you guessed it, ‘Tribhanga’ (a standing body position,in which the body is bent at three points, namely the knees, the hips, and the shoulders-neck, each part pointing in different directions) Kajol’s shoulders and she handles it like a boss! She plays a loud, swearing, cussing, perennially annoyed, extremely forthright, and super snarky character, a performance that seems to come to her so easily that we cannot help but love her for it. She is clearly the star of this show. 

The other motley of characters include a loyalist brother who has embraced spirituality, an estranged father with a failing memory, and an accepting lover whose patience is tested at every step.

It is a pleasure to watch Kanwaljeet on screen after all this time. I recall watching his TV series ‘Saans ’ as a child and instantly warming up to his puppy dog eyes and kind expression (that too when he was portraying a philandering spouse). 

This film shows him in a different light though. The brief snatches of onscreen chemistry between him and Azmi are reminiscent of their ‘Family no 1’ days, and I couldn’t help wishing he’d appear in more frames. 

Kunaal Roy Kapur has an onscreen presence that grows on you, and although he has very few lines as well, his expressions and body language say it all. The man definitely has potential. 

The takeaway:

With a touching story line and cast in tow, Tribhanga dives into the nuances of human relationship that until now had barely been explored. We have all witnessed the constrained father-son chemistry of a KKKG (‘Kabhie khushi  kabhie gham’) or YJHD (‘Ye jawaani hai  deewani’) but this is the first when it comes to depicting the convoluted silence of a mother-daughter bond...an underrated bond that is so easily take for granted. 

‘Tribhanga’ also passes on alert intent message on forgiveness. On forgiving ourselves, on forgiving our parents. On accepting that they are just as human as we are. And so just as flawed. 

The mistakes made by Nayan and then by Anu reveal that ‘perfect’ parenting can never exist. No matter how you raise your child, there is always space for complaint. 

Anu’s character, although slightly askew, brings to the fore a shade of feminism that is much needed in India. It displays unabashedly a vibe that is a contradiction, a bold contrast to the dutiful daughter, the subservient wife, the doting mother cutouts that society expects us to fit in all the time. 

It tells us it is okay to speak up, to speak loud, and speak for ourselves, because nobody else is going to do that for us. Giving this so-called ‘idealistic’ society the middle finger salute, this movie challenges us to accept the ‘tedhi, medhi, crazy’ in every woman, in every mother, in every daughter. And the ‘Tribhanga’ that comes along with them.

I rate this movie a 4 out of 5.

Book review: 'Anxious people' by Fredrik Backman

Title: "Anxious People"

Author: Fredrik Backman

Publisher: Simon & Schuster (September 2020)

Available in :Paperback and Kindle format

This is a story about 'idiots', relatable to the core because each one of us at some point in life has been one.

It is a story about how we adults are actually children in disguise, unaware of where we are going, forced to accept responsibilities we are not always ready for, but trying to fulfil them to the best of our abilities anyway.

It is a story about a bank robbery gone wrong, about an ensuing hostage drama, and a bunch of strangers each with their own eccentricities, finding a common thread.

Narrated in a light and riveting style, Fredrik Backman frequently employs the ‘Rashomon effect’. It alternates between sarcastic but humorous interviews with the hostages and a tongue in cheek account of what ‘actually’ happened.

A few pages down, and you are almost tempted into believing it is a comedy (of errors), until you read on and discover the profundity of interwoven wisdom.

‘Anxious people’, I’d love to classify, as a community read. It is self-help disguised in a refreshingly non-patronising manner...something you’d want to pick especially during a pandemic like the one we are going through, when empathy is the need of the hour.

However, there were a few instances in the book that felt larger than life. What I didn’t particularly enjoy is that Backman has taken care to explain (repeatedly at times) and tie all the ends together, leaving very little to the readers imagination. While I do appreciate a well rounded-up story, I also respect authors who respect their readers intelligence and leave a few instances open ended. But then again, perhaps reconfirmation is a strategy to suit the theme (‘anxiety’) of the book.

The realization how our life can be affected by the life of strangers we may have momentarily crossed paths with, the decisions that don’t always make sense but we are forced to take for the ones we love, and last but not the least, a reminder that it is not always our fault...Backman explores these themes in this wonderfully spontaneous and witty NewYork Times Bestseller.

I rate this one 4 on 5.

Book review: 'Caste: The origins of our discontent'

Title: 'Caste: The origins of our discontent'

Author: Isabel Wilkerson

Publisher: Allen Lane (15 September 2020)

Available in: Kindle edition, audio book, hard cover, and audio CD

“The price of privilege is the moral duty to act when one sees another person treated unfairly."

But somewhere down the line, we seem to have forgotten just that. 

Isabel Wilkerson ‘Caste...the origin of our discontent’ is a hard-hitting eye opener to all those who have allowed themselves to be blinded by the repetitive prejudiced tellings of a caste based culture. 

The book tries to break down the complexities of caste and race workings into simpler building blocks, to help us understand from where it all started. 

Written in an easy-to-understand and interesting way, the narrative is a combination of a terrifying history, a grotesque reality, and tiny reminders that hit us hard and wake us up. 

At the very outset, Isabel draws parallels between the three major caste hierarchies in the world—-the chilling, officially vanquished caste system of Nazi Germany, the shapeshifting, unspoken race divide in America, and the lingering, millennia old and more insidious caste hierarchy in India. 

Of course, the author being African American, has grown up hearing, seeing, and feeling the ramifications of a racist society in her everyday life and personal interactions and this has placed her at a vantage point while explaining to us the situation in America than that in the other two countries. 

I, however, being Indian, could easily imagine the same incidents rolling out in almost exactly the same way here in India. The only difference being, here we are divided on the basis of ‘caste’ and there on the basis of ‘race’.

“Caste is the bones. Race is the skin.”

For all those who thought the two forms (of prejudice) were different from each other, Isabel aptly puts across the correct relationship between the two. Caste, she explains, is fixed, a more rigid concept while race is more fluid. However, both are interdependent. Both have wreaked terror and continue to do so even today despite there being existing laws against the discrimination they trigger. 

If one has read Ambedkar’s ‘Annihilation of the caste system’, it is easy to notice how similar the discrimination faced by the Dalits in medieval India was to the horror endured by the blacks in the U.S before the American civil war. 

The Jim Crow laws, the subjugation that the non-whites suffered at the hands of the whites, the humiliation, the flogging, the slavery, the rapes have all been happening with the marginalised in India as well. Likewise with the Jews who were assigned the status ‘Untermensch’ in the period that led to the third Reich.

In the segment on the eight pillars of caste, Isabel explores various prejudices, the myths and facades that were built to keep them in place, the laws against miscegenation, endogamy, and mind numbing horrors that one cannot even imagine inflicted on human or animal. 

The subservience of the subordinate castes made me squirm with discomfort. The cruelty they were made to suffer made me gasp. The illogical hatred, the senseless narcissism, the abuse (physical and mental) by the so-called ‘higher’ castes left me infuriated. 

The gory real life stories of ‘Negro’ slaves in America, the denigration of ‘untouchables’ in India are so painfully grotesque and dehumanising that I was tempted to abandon reading midway...but then it hit me—-that is exactly the problem with our society. We often want to live in denial of that which is not palatable, no matter how real. Refusing to acknowledge the atrocities, the bias, the prejudice of caste will not make it go away. 

It is pretty much like the monster under your bed...you don’t want to look because you are too afraid you may actually find it. Only, in this case, the ‘monster’ called caste is real. 

And that is what the book felt like—-harsh, painful, but authentic. 

The narrative is interspersed with anecdotes from the author’s own personal encounters and the criticism she faces only adds to the ‘real’ voice of the book. 

"Jaat naahi ti jaat,” is a popular Marathi saying that is reflective of the nature of the caste system. 

After reading this book and realising how global this phenomenon is, I was left speechless. 

Here we are in the 21st century, a so called modern and evolved era still trying to come to terms with the idiocy of the caste system, still dealing with the assumed superiority of some groups over others that they consider inferior based on immutable factors, like colour of skin, origin of birth, and ancestry. 

We have been handed down a regressive social construct, the disasters of which have been either perpetuated or suffered by our ancestors, and instead of destroying it, we continue to treasure it, respect it, revere it...as part of our heritage. This abominable heritage of hate.

Call it ‘varna’, ‘race’,  or ‘jaati’, caste by any other name is just as evil. 

The resurgence of the caste system, maybe in less obvious, more insidious ways, has made us forget the struggle of Martin Luther King, Babasaheb Ambedkar, Jyotiba Phule. 

We have become silent witnesses of communal mobs, of Dalits being lynched, of surnames being asked, of marriages being broken, of lovers being torn apart, of temples barring access...all evidence of the resurgence. 

But we choose to stay silent. We do not act. 

A line I read in this book springs to mind...

Something Bonhoeffer once said to bystanders, 

“God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

Detailing the grim and the gory is not an easy task. And a book like this must have taken a whole lot of research.  Wilkerson has done a commendable job in piecing together ‘The origin of our discontent’, with need for special mention of how in the end, she ties it all up with glimmering threads of hope. Of the non-bias of white friends who stand up for her. Of the radicalisation of the dominant caste. Of people shedding their prejudices. Of realisation. Of equality. Of acceptance.

The chapter ‘The Heart is the last frontier’ is a beautiful reminder that the world can still be beautiful. 

I end here with the concluding line of the book. A line we all need to ponder upon, long before and after reading...

“A world without caste would set everyone free.”

I urge you to read this book and draw your own conclusions. I rate it a 5 on 5. A must read!

Book review: “The family upstairs” by Lisa Jewell

This one was recommended to me by a friend who for some reason (unknown to me) thought  I’d enjoy it very much. Anyway...

It’s not like I hated the book. In fact, I did enjoy it in parts. 

The story is fast paced, the writing is crisp and easy. And it has that ‘page turner’ quality (at least in the first 3/4th of the book). The narrative is split into three different POV’s, each with a distinctive style and course.

25 year old Libby aka ‘the baby’ has just inherited a mansion in the heart of Chelsea from a family she lost as a baby. 

While researching on this surprise inheritance, there are a few other discoveries that come to light, the prime among which is that as a baby she had been found by authorities in the midst of a crime scene, gurgling away in her crib with three dead people in the house (her parents and their friend in an alleged suicide pact), and that she has two other siblings she never got to see/know growing up. 

It is these three; Libby, Henry, and Lucy around which the narrative is structured. 

Thus unravels the story of the mansion, at the centre of which lie these three families whose lives become closely intertwined in sinister ways...ways that the reader will find himself piecing together as he becomes part of the journey. A journey rife with emotional upheaval, a troubled childhood, bizarre cultic traditions, and some deep dark secrets that once breathed in the mansion, waiting for 25 years to be uncovered. 

Jewell has managed to successfully arouse and maintain the intrigue of the reader with each person’s narrative alternating between their horrifying past replete with cloistered cultic traditions and incestuous relationships, and their tumultuous present that is filled with confusion, fear, anxiety, and yet a common yearning...to meet each other, especially ‘the baby’. 

There are moments of surprise and incredulity that will leave the reader open mouthed but turning pages nevertheless.

Some instances that require suspension of disbelief include: 

A murder happening (too easily executed and concealed) in broad daylight and the cops never following up on it. 

Henry (at age 12 or 13) learning the entire expansive science of herbs and potions from Justin and then practicing it all alone with equal finesse almost felt like a retelling of ‘the sorcerers apprentice’.

Also couldn’t help feeling all the kids in the book must have been precocious, with them the little geniuses mastering sciences and culinary arts, or understanding the nuances of mature adult relationships or even plotting the almost-perfect escape and getting away with murder. 

All this, with not even as much as basic formal schooling (Couldn’t help feeling it may have been education that ruined us).

Cut to the last 1/4th of the book, and the plot starts feeling a little stodgy or probably this is because your expectations have risen by then, when suddenly the big reveal...the sibling is not the sibling (which is a good twist nonetheless). 

You devour the next few pages at break neck speed and just when you think the plot is getting sinister, PHAATT! It falls flat! 

Yes, the way the story ended left me feeling let down because by then I was rooting for pure evil, what with a cultic plot like that. Instead it gave me a happily ever after with almost negligible traces of ominousness (a major roll-eye moment).

It was as if the quota of dark psychology had outdone itself during their childhood and not wanting to creep them out anymore suddenly decided to quit the family reunion. 

Jewell leaves a lot to the readers imagination, with her touch-and-go style of cause and effect. 

Well, I do acknowledge the fact that a nice little open ending exercises the brain cells, but experimenting with these kind of open loops a tad too frequently in the story can make it seem like the author may have not known how best to end what she had started. 

To sum up, ‘The Family Upstairs’ is a racy, chilling, psychological read that includes multiple story lines, scarred lives, a lot of mystery, several murders, a deranged cult, a malevolent obsession, and a happy ending, that will leave you with some jaw drops and a whole lot of roll eye moments.

I rate it 3 out of 5 

Book review: ‘The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse’

Title: The boy, the mole, the fox, and the horse.

Author: Charlie Mackesy 

Pages: 128 pages

Publisher: Ebury Press

“The boy, the mole, the fox, and the horse” is an allegorical tale, replete with flash insights on friendship, courage, life and our insecurities.

It is a simple story with invaluable lessons inscribed on every page, a story that can be read, interpreted, and understood by people of all ages. 

The story begins with a boy wandering into the wilderness, alone and confused, until he encounters a philosophical mole, a silent fox, and a magnificent horse. 

Each of the four characters represent extremely relatable human traits and behavioural patterns. The little boy, lost and full of questions, is trying to find his way back home. The wizened mole is obsessed with cake. The silent fox is jaded by the hurt he has lived in the past. And the gentle horse has downplayed his exemplary talents  in order to fit into an ordinary world. 

Together they explore the wilderness, which like life, is full of surprises-both scary and beautiful. 

Thus a symbiotic association is formed between them, ultimately resulting in an unusual but beautiful friendship.

Embellished with basic illustrations and minimalistic writing using swirly calligraphy and intermittent strokes of water colour in pen and ink drawings, Charlie Mac has brought out the beauty of the journey in a succinct yet engaging manner. 

The sketches gently push the story forward. The accompanying dialogue between the characters make you reflect on your own insecurities of fear, guilt, illness, loss, thus serving as balm to the aching soul. 

Lines like “Home isn’t always a place, isn’t it?” hit home and make you nod in agreement.

A poignant point which almost made me want to reach out and hug the author was when the boy asks the horse, “What is the bravest thing you’ve ever said?”, to which the horse replies, “Help”. 

A shout-out to all people belittling, underestimating, or shying away from discussing their mental health issues.

As suggested in the above illustration, the author seems to be a believer of beauty-in-imperfections, somewhat like the Japanese culture of Wabisabi. And this only adds to the charm of his storytelling. 

If you, like me, are a fan of Bill Watterson’s ‘Calvin & Hobbes’ series, then this is one book you are sure to enjoy. 

Translated in seventeen different languages, ‘The boy, the mole, the fox, and the horse’ is worth the space in your collection and your heart...to hand and hold, to treasure and cherish, and to return to every now and then, especially in times of uncertainty and strife. 

Seems like the apt read for now,  isn’t it?  

I rate it: 5 out of 5

You can buy it here

#SmartHomeRevolution : Smart choices for a smarter you

As a child, I grew up on a healthy dose of children's films and cartoon shows. I remember being glued to the sofa, refusing to allow anyone else the liberty to have access to the remote or the TV. Among all my favorite shows, the two that topped my list were 'The Flintstones' and its extreme opposite, 'The Jetsons'. (The former lived in the stone age, with machines and transport powered by birds and dinosaurs. Contrary to them, the latter inhabited the future, and made use of the most advanced technology.)

While 'The Flintstones' made me giggle at the redundant lifestyle of prehistoric times, 'The Jetsons' would make me dream about a future wherein machines would be our slave and bring the world to our feet.

I was fascinated by Rosie, the household robot, who although authoritarian, handled the family's every need with great finesse and dedication. I marveled at teenage Judy's digital diary that she fondly called DiDi. I longed for a computer like R.U.D.I who could be as much as a friend to me as he was to George.
All of it seemed so magical back then...the inventions, gadgets, futuristic lifestyle. I would watch wide eyed, while the Jetsons made avail of equipment I had never seen nor heard of. I recall describing the series to my grandmother. Whenever I went over to her place, I'd fill her up on the shows I'd watch. And 'The Jetsons' hardly ever missed a mention.
As I animatedly regaled her with stories about the Jetsons, she would let my imagination soar, allowing me to explain at great length...scenes from the series and some from my own imagination.
In hindsight, it must have all seemed so crazy to her. Mechanical house robots and talking computers. But she never once let it show.
A woman who lived in times before the TV and telephone were discovered would never be able to imagine what power the Jetsons possessed on a child's imagination. But the Jetsons had made me believe in possibilities...and the possibilities, like always, were endless.

Cut to present day, my childhood fantasies do not seem so distant after all. In fact, we still have 43 years ahead of us to catch up with the kind of inventions the Jetsons used, and at the rate we are going, it will not be a surprise if we superseded them very soon.

Over the last few years, India has seen a stellar rise in technology, allowing the tech-savvy prospective buyer to fulfill his desires and suit his preferences. Up to forty percent of smart watches and google assistants have been sold via Flipkart.
Today, easy accessibility of the internet and smart phones in every small town and village has enabled India to bring about a digital revolution that promises to change the face of our country forever. Smart phones, smart watches, fitness belts, and of late, smart homes are on the rise. We are on our way to our Jetsons fantasy...
And the only way we can fulfill it is by embracing smart options for ourselves and for our homes.

Smart choices include:

• Smart home - This includes thermostats, refrigerators, air conditioners, and other smart devices that come with Wifi capability, and can be controlled via apps on the smart phone. 

• Smart lights - A smart home solution that can be operated and controlled using a simple app on your phone. 

• Personal assistant devices such as Google home, Apple HomePod, Amazon Echo that are AI (Artificial Intelligence) powered, voice activated virtual assistants that carry out commands. These are integrated with your home automation devices.

• Smart camera -  This smart camera not just safeguards your home from thefts but also makes sure you don't miss out on the important moments (like your baby's milestones) in life just because you are away. Wherever you are, smart surveillance cameras guarantees that the safety of your home and loved ones is just a click away. 

• Smart wearable - These include smart watches that go as long as 45 days with a single charge, touch enabled fitness bands (like Mi band, Fitbit) that measure every step taken by you, bluetooth hats, smart glasses, smart headphones etc. 

Why make these smart choices?
Smart devices provide us with better security, reliability, and comfort.
It is used friendly and very useful especially for the elderly. It is the surest way of ensuring the safety of your loved ones.
Also these smart options save energy expenditure and cut down on expenses in the long run.

To understand further, let us imagine a day in the life of a modern day technology smart user aka you as part of the #SmartHomeRevolution...

It is morning.

You are woken up by a familiar voice. It is your friendly assistant, Google Home. It rattles off the  news headlines for the day.

While getting ready for your morning jog. you are in the mood for some music.
"Ok. Google. Play me Ed Sheeran's Shape-Of-you," you ask. 
Google Home obliges immediately. You hum along.

 A reminder from Google that you're getting late. You quickly strap your Huami Amazfit smart watch  on your wrist.
"Google, turn off the fan," you say, and step out, reassured by the fact that your voice controls your favorite home automation devices. 

You have now reached Joggers park. You check your watch for any call or message notification alert. The smart watch is a fitness tracker doubled up with a watch. As you complete your laps on the ground, it measures your physical activity. It records your heart rate and counts your steps. You are glad you decided to #GetFitWithFlipkart. Buying the multipurpose smart watch was the first step. 

 Four laps and you're done. You head home. 
At home, the water is heated for a hot, refreshing post-exercise shower, just like you want it. It is definitely a blessing that you can navigate through all your requirements from your smart phone app. 
A hot shower and breakfast later, you are all set to step out for work. Google Home reminds you of your appointments for the day. You have got it all covered...rather your assistant has it all covered. 

You leave for office, assured that your home is safe under the watchful protection of smart surveillance. 

You have installed the 360 HD home security smart camera. This enables you to monitor all activity inside and around the house with the help of the app on your phone. 

It is evening and you are on your way back from work. You have had a long day and you are tired. Also the scorching summer heat is making you feel irritable and cranky. You can't wait to get home. You have already switched on the air conditioner using the smart home app on your phone, a little before your estimated reach-time. Also the Philips hue smart bulbs allow you to schedule, turn on/off, and even dim the lights via your smart phone. 

Finally, you are home!! The long day and traffic has left you irate. But the crankiness from work soon disappears in the comfort of the dimmed out lights and the cool air of the air conditioner. 

You microwave your dinner, while simultaneously setting your assistant to task. 
"Google, play Sherlock from Netflix."

You watch a couple of episodes while having dinner. 
Then wash up and get into bed. Google Home plays soft instrumental music on your demand. It knows exactly what you need for a good night's rest.

The smart lights in your room dim out, and your drift off to sleep. 

The above scenario could easily become your everyday reality. At the click of a button, you can make a choice that will change your home and life forever. Flipkart offers great deals on smart home products. 

You can start out small and gradually keep upgrading your smart home options. Speaking from personal experience, I would recommend a smart watch or fitness belt (depending on your budget) and 'Google home' to be on top priority list. The surveillance camera is also a deal worth considering.

Let's make some smart choices today. We need to step up with the times.
Our homes are turning smart. Let's get smarter!

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This post was written for #GetFitWithFlipkart, a contest by Flipkart and Indiblogger. 
If you liked what you read, please vote for it here.

Movie review of 'Nude'

Have you ever witnessed an exhibition of nude paintings? What is your first reaction? Do you lower your gaze and turn away out of fear of appearing too brazen? Do you look around to observe reactions from people around you before voicing your own? Or do you stand in silence, lost in reverance for the splendid creation the human body is, a fact that you might have otherwise taken for granted, had it not been for such art?
But how many of you wonder about the model posing for the portrait? About their feelings? Their life? Their experiences and expectations? How many would imagine what it would be like to step into the mind of the artist to understand what he perceives?

I remember the first time I saw a nude painting. I was around thirteen or fourteen then. My parents had enrolled me in this recreational art program during my summer vacations, and that was where I knew Samit, (name changed) a shy and extremely talented boy, a real crackerjack in art class. So when this shy, bespectacled boy with the kind eyes and toothy grin sketched an almost life-like picture of a nude woman, I was shocked.
While a few of the bemused boys in the batch got busy discussing who his inspiration could be, I recall we girls had been embarrassed to even look in the direction of the sketch.
I, who would normally appreciate his paintings had refrained from commenting on that particular work of art. The boy definitely had an artistic bone in him, but this kind of audacity was unexpected. He was stretching it too far, I thought. The news spread and soon enough all the girls (including me) attending the summer program refrained from talking to him. I would often feel guilty of cutting off like that, but the verdict had been passed. Samit was branded a pervert. Ergo I too restricted my interaction with him to the occasional smiles and hellos. A couple of weeks down the line, he stopped attending class. We heard his dad got transferred to another city. The summer vacation ended, and I never saw or heard of Samit after that.

Cut to present day. Facebook tells me that the same 'audacious' boy has made his way into the art world, and is the talk of many art circles in London where he currently resides. He still sketches women, many of them in the nude. But as opposed to giggles and glares from classmates back then, receives accolades and praises now. And I wonder, if all the girls from that summer program are feeling as guilt ridden as me for our behaviour towards him back then. After all, what was his fault really? Was one misunderstood sketch enough to tarnish his otherwise spotless reputation? We'd have never known what went on in his mind back then. He was much too well-mannered to react to our petulance anyway.
Young and easily impressionable, art to us, was black and white, and even the slightest bit of grey (especially from someone of the same age group) was unwelcome.
Luckily (at least for me), over the years, I managed to break out of that mentality...

Growing up came with myriad types of interactions and experiences, which played an important part in  changing my world view and broadening my perspective. Also, discovering my passion for writing made me realise and acknowledge the need to express freely by all other art forms as well...

And Ravi Jadhav's movie, 'Nude', explores the struggle to preserve this very freedom of creative expression.

Yamuna (played by Kalyanee Mulay), a woman who has been ashamed and abandoned by her philandering husband leaves the village and arrives in Mumbai with a teenage son in tow. Seeking shelter with the tough and brazen Kaveri akka (played by Chhaya Kadam), she struggles to find employment, but in vain. Until she discovers her akka's  dark secret; she has been posing as a nude model at the JJ school of arts since the last thirty years. When Yamuna confronts her about it, Kaveri explains to her in a wonderful discourse on the artist’s gaze and perspective, on how the artist sees his muse as a sacred subject of study and worship, until Yamuna is convinced that beyond the surface of the job is genuine intent to preserve the sanctity of art and free expression.

Tempted by the remuneration and discretion the job offers, Yamuna agrees to pose for the students, and soon enough earns not just their respect but their friendship too. However, the clandestine nature of the job proves to become the millstone around her neck. Her son, who is her only reason for living, misunderstands the nature of the job, leaving Yamuna bereft that he never will.

Through ‘Nude’, Ravi Jadhav has explored the nuances of art and human nature. There are a few cliched lines (quipped by Naseeruddin Shah who is obviously playing MF Hussain), but they too manage to move something inside you when heard in context.

The actors have done a commendable job. Chhaya Kadam is brilliant as the staunch and sensible Kaveri Akka, while Kalyanee has played her transformation with finesse. Om Bhutkar has proved his acting prowess, by provoking the audience with his insensitive and perverted character representation. Madan Deodhar does justice to his role, but Kishore Kadam and Neha Joshi are wasted.

Check out this haunting melody, depicting the life of a nude model, sung, written and composed by Sayali Khare...

The film is aided with brilliant and equally sensitive cinematography, from the private art room in the institute to cramped and crowded shanties to the penultimate scene on the beach which with its hard hitting dialogue and intensity manages to leave you with goosebumps.
Personally, I thought the movie should have ended there for maximum effect. In fact, I was quite expecting the credits to roll, leaving the audience in stunned silence. But that didn’t happen.

The last bit could have been avoided as it distracted from the impact the beach scene managed to create. But I guess the director thought differently.
Nevertheless, ‘Nude’ provides that essential glimpse inside the soul of an artist, on the true meaning of art often misinterpreted by a merciless society that is too quick to judge.

I rate it 4 out of 5

Movie review: 'October'

Movie Title: October

Genre: Romance/drama

Director: Shoojit Sircar

Story: Juhi Chaturvedi

Producer: Ronnie Lahiri, Sheel Kumar

Cast: Varun Dhawan, Banita Sandhu, Ajay Sharma, Gitanjali Rao and others

The film starts on a casual note, showing us a typical day in the life of Dan, a hotel management student interning at a five star hotel, who manages to get everything wrong at work owing to his clumsiness and cocky behavior. However, all is forgiven because this twenty-one year old has a good heart and the emotional maturity of a child, making it impossible for his colleagues, friends, and even his boss to hate him.
On the other hand, Shiuli is a well-balanced, mature and intelligent co-worker, who seems to have her life and priorities sorted, something that irks Dan because it reminds him of his own inadequacies.
Barely friends, these two know very little of each other...until the fateful accident that nearly kills Shiuli, changing the dynamics of their relationship forever.

Even half-way through the film, I knew that this movie would garner mixed reactions from its audience. And the after-comments from the people in the movie hall only proved me right.
However, I am of the opinion that good art should evoke and provoke. If a good piece of art (be it poetry, literature, or film) doesn't trigger you to think hard and change something in you, then it hardly qualifies as impactful. What different would it be than the run of the mill, leave-your-brain-behind potboilers we love to hate?

I am glad 'October' proved to be different. And although it did not manage to break the frozen sea of disappointment and bias that mainstream Bollywood (with its frivolous song-and-dance routine and slapstick comedy) has created within me, I do think it managed to cause a few cracks in it.

The movie leaves you with a heavy heart and a mind full of questions...questions that you may have asked yourself before, questions you may have dodged answering, and topics you may have avoided because, well, they are too damn difficult and painful to think about. But 'October' brings those same questions to the fore, carefully wrapped in a story of young love and compassion that keeps you engaged emotionally until the end, when you leave the hall in sombre silence and it suddenly hits you. The nuances of the film, the underlying message, the tone, the subtlety.
The theme revolves around the eternal dilemma faced by the caretaker or family of someone who has slipped into an almost irrecoverable coma----hang on to the delicate thread of hope or pull the plug and let go?  The former means the possibility of watching the person suffer through perceivable and imperceptible trauma, but also holds a chance (however bleak it may seem) of recovery. The latter means losing the person forever, with the only consolation that you have at least ended the suffering. Personally, I think both options are equally harrowing for the caregiver or family member to choose from. Hell! It isn't even a choice in the first place.

Yet, 'October' portrays how strong optimism can bring about a positive outcome in even the bleakest of conditions. Dan fights against medical reason and logic. When the resolve of even family is shaken, he proves to be the pillar of strength, helping Shiuli, gradually make her way to as much of a recovery as possible, showing us how even a few extra moments with a dying person can help the ones left behind in getting the much needed strength to live on. Perhaps that was the real underlying message behind the movie...cherish every moment, even the fleeting ones.

Thinking about it, I think 'October' was all about searching for closure, until you eventually realize it is within your own self. Dan's entire journey, starting with him being persistently curious about why Shiuli asked about him just before the accident, to him presuming she has feelings for him, to the point wherein looking after her becomes the sole aim of his life, despite knowing that she may never be able enough to return his love, only proves to us that the answers you are seeking are inside you.

'October' brought to mind Aruna Shanbaug who remained in a vegetative state for nearly 42 years before she passed away in 2015.

A senior nurse at the hospital (where Aruna lay admitted) was quoted saying, "We have to tend to her just like a small child at home. She only keeps aging like any of us, does not create any problems for us. We take turns looking after her and we love to care for her. How can anybody think of taking her life?"

This movie helped me see the Aruna Shanbaug case in a different light. I no longer saw it as a pitiful condition of a helpless woman being unable to express her will. Instead I saw it as a victory of the love and care that helped her fight a forty-two year long battle.

There are a few scenes that are so heart touching, that you can't help but marvel at Banita Sandhu, who, despite being a debutante, has managed to win hearts with her acting prowess. The supporting characters have also done full justice to their roles.
Dan with his simplicity and never-say-die (literally) optimism manages to grow on you, and you cannot help but applaud his persistence and sensitivity. Dhawan's terse dialogue delivery and innocent performance manages to evoke just the right amount of empathy towards his character, while Sandhu's lifeless stare and sluggish responses as a comatose patient, proves her prowess as an actor.

To sum up, 'October' is a movie of substance, a slice-of-life story that tells us that connections of the heart do not need reason or logic. Sometimes all it takes is a tiny germ of a thought that urges you to make a difference. Perhaps the real way to love is to love unconditionally.
Perhaps the only way to love is to love unconditionally!

Personal Rating: 4 out of 5

Are you healthy-E-nough?

As a doctor, I often am hounded by extended family and friends asking for tips to good health. However, today, with the world resorting to drastic changes in lifestyle, the answer to this question is becoming increasingly difficult. With hardly any time for a well-balanced nutritious diet and exercise, we deprive ourselves in areas that really matter. We prioritize all else over health. Today, children are turning increasingly addicted to all kinds of junk food. Adults are having a tough time balancing work and personal life. And hence, we inadvertently end up making some bad choices.
It is no wonder, therefore, that there has been a sudden rise in lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension etc.

As for me, I have to shamelessly confess, I have been making a lot of bad choices myself. Neglecting my health had been one of them. So come 2018, I resolved to change that as best as I could.

Years of making mighty resolutions and breaking them by the third day of the new year has taught me to make achievable goals, and so I have decided to keep it real this time...take things slowly.
Accordingly, I have now started putting into personal practice a healthy routine by making necessary modifications in my negligent behavior.

That brings me to what I'm going to discuss today---the importance of vitamin E in daily health routine (as known from textbook, patient, and personal experience. So trust me on this!)

So let's start at the beginning:

What is Vitamin E and why is it needed?

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin. It has important anti-oxidant properties that protect the cells from damage caused by free radicals. 

So what are free radicals then?

Free radicals are compounds formed by the body during conversion of food to energy. They are also caused due to smoking, alcohol, environmental pollutants, and a variety of other unavoidable processes.  An increase in free radicals causes harmful tissue damage. 

Vitamin E fights the free radicals and hence aids in preventing cell destruction and ageing.

In addition Vitamin E plays a significant role in -

      1. Skin: 

• Vitamin E plays a role in the skin's antioxidant defences. 
•  It protects the skin against harmful ultra violet raysthat have carcinogenic potential
•  Decreases wrinkles
•  Makes skin soft, supple and moisturized.
•  Protects against sun burns
• Promotes collagen, maintains elasticity and thus rejuvenates the skin making it appear glowing and healthy.

        2. Hair

• Helps in restoring the shine and lustre
• Strengthens the hair
• Prevents hair fall

       3. Serves as an anti-coagulant

       4. Reduces muscle soreness and leg  cramps 
Vitamin E has also proven to have beneficial effects in conditions like

      5. Diabetes

      6. Eye disorders-  helps improve vision deficits and conditions like retinopathy, cataract, and age related macular degeneration. 

      7. Cadiomyopathy and heart illnesses

      8. Cancers

     9. Hormonal imbalance, PMS etc

In addition to all the above benefits, Vitamin E helps in strengthening the immune system and protects the body against bacteria and viruses.

Being a Diabetologist, most of my patients come to me with secondary complaints of aching muscles, tiredness, and neuralgic symptoms, and an introduction of Vitamin E supplements like Evion for supervised time periods has shown tremendous improvement. Peripheral neuropathy is one of the most feared complications of Diabetes, and Vitamin E can help reverse changes if deleted early. It also helps reduce balance cholesterol imbalance.
However, one has to be careful not to continue it for prolonged periods especially if on other Vitamin K and anti-platelet medication.

Vitamin E can cause drug interaction with the following medication:

• Cyclosporine
• Niacin
• Oral contraceptive pills
• Warfarin

Hence caution should be exercised in these cases. 
Also, since it is fat-soluble, excess of it can result in a condition called Hypervitaminosis. So I always make it a point to advice my patients not to continue it for prolonged periods. 

The daily recommended dietary allowance for Vitamin E in adults is 15 mgs, (should not exceed the upper permissible limit of 1000 IU/day) and can be obtained from 

dietary sources of the vitamin such as --

• Lettuce
• Pumpkin
• Almonds
• Sweet potato
• Fruits like mango, kiwi, raspberry, cranberry, apricots, black currents
• Avocado
• Spinach
• Collards
• Asparagus
• Soya bean
• Vegetable and nut seed oils
• Olive, sunflower, corn and soyabean oil (rich in tocopherols)
• Palm oil, barley, rice bran (contains tocofrienols)
• Egg yolk
• Margarine

However, if you see signs of Vitamin E deficiency, together with low blood levels, it is advisable to consult your doctor and start on Vitamin E supplements.

As for me, I mostly rely on dietary sources for consumption. However, not so long ago, my blood work showed low levels of the vitamin. I was having symptoms of tiredness, sore muscle, and hair loss. 

It was then that I resorted to #Evion, a brand name for Vitamin E that I had been prescribing to my patients since the last so many years now. There comes a time in every doctor's life that he has to take a dose of his own medicine (literally) and I was confident about Evion. 
As expected, I started showing improvement within a month's time. I observed reduction in hair fall, and my skin had become soft and supple. I was also feeling more active and energetic and was convinced of the improvement my patients felt with Evion supplements.

Since then, I have been using Vitamin E in my moisturizing routine and hair oil massage. And needless to say, I am happy with the results.

MERCK is a trusted pharma company and a pioneer brand of Vitamin E products since 1978. IT has not just launched Evion (in multiple dose strengths like 200, 600, 400) but has also recently come up with a skin cream hat has  has also come up with a skin cream containing Vitamin E and aloe vera, both of which have moisturizing and skin protecting qualities. You no longer need to prick and squeeze Evion capsules for your hair and skin masks. Just buy the cream instead. 

For more information, check here 


Packaged in an aluminium laminated peel-off foil Evion 400 costs only Rs 22.35 for a pack of ten capsules. The Evion skin cream comes in a 60 gms tube pack and is priced at Rs 144 only. Economical, safe, and packed with benefits, I think this is a great deal to attain lustrous hair and healthy skin, the tell-tale signs of a healthy and happy life.

With that, I guess, I've said E-nough.

After all, the proof of  the pudding...