Why do I love rom-coms?

Of late, I have only been watching romcoms whenever I get some free time. This made me think, why do I like watching these movies?

Every time I watch any rom-com, I automatically find myself in that heroine's position. Then I start thinking what would have I done in her place and so on! But that doesn't happen in other movies. Yes, that is correct. I am totally smitten with rom-coms.

Definitely this is one of my favorite pastimes, not that I get a lot of time :). But to think of it, why do I love these kind of movies, I did come up with some points. 

• While I am watching the movie, I am transported to a whole different world. 
• The characters make me laugh, they make me cry, but finally they make me happy :).
• I get to experience some of the most beautiful things in life again :), like love at first sight, coming back for the person you love, see the smile on the loved one's face :)
• There are hardly any sad endings in these kind of movies. Even The Notebook, the two died together, which, in my opinion, was one of the most beautiful endings for any movie, and life as such. 
• I understand such things are usually hypothetical but still happy endings please me :).

I am still thinking of points. If you have any, please do leave me a comment. I would love to know what you think...

Yes..this is The Ugly Truth!!

After watching The Bu(i)g wedding, I browsed through Katherine Heigl movies. I stumbled upon this one..."The Ugly Truth". The actors were Katherine Heigl, of course and Gerald Butler. Immediately I decided to watch it.

Abby (Heigl) is a TV show producer whose TRPs are falling drastically. She has to bring it up, else her job could be in jeopardy. On the other hand, Mike(Gerald) is the host of a TV show called The Ugly Truth where he discusses issues between men and women. He doesn't hesitate to call a spade a spade and tells what men actually want. Because of this he is very popular on TV and so is his show. He is hired by Abby's TV channel where the two meet and so the movie continues. I do not want to divulge any further details about the movie.

The film starts on a slow pace but once Gerald enters, it speeds up and becomes interesting. Gerald is good as Mike. I love his accent and the way his mouth twitches when he speaks (Blush! Blush!). Katherine, in her part does a great job as usual. 27 Dresses is my personal favorite but this movie was equally good. What made this work was the crackling chemistry between the leads.

A clip from one of the best scenes in the movie

There are some really hilarious scenes in the movie and I had not laughed that loud during any movie in the recent times. And if you know me, you would know, how loudly I laugh!! Hehehe!!

The ending is very melodramatic but the overall movie makes up for it.

My rating for the movie would be 3.5/5.
Watch it!! It is a fun watch!!!

A week well spent!!!

My surgery gave me a 1 week break from work. I had a feeling that sitting at home would be difficult for me. But it was not so. 

I studied for a couple of days, and then did what I really enjoy doing..watching rom-coms.
My kids usually do not allow me to watch Romedy Now with their POGOs and Cartoon Networks. Along with that my mom and mother-in-law with her daily dosage of serials, I thought I should give watching TV a pass.

So I moved to my phone, I really need to thank Pradeep now for having forced me to buy the phone that I have now. And I now realize it more :). Watching a movie on my phone was a pleasurable experience. The bigger screen and the wonderful sound clarity made it more entertaining.

So I started watching all the movies that I could. I managed only 4, whose reviews I would be publishing in the subsequent posts. So keep watching this space for more...

Shh..grandpa's around!!!!

Just the other morning, I was standing in my balcony basking in the morning sun. I saw an elderly gentleman doing his daily yoga practices. Accompanying him were a bunch of kids who also were something related to yoga :), falling in and out of the yoga mat.

That scene reminded me if the days I had spent under the guidance of my grandfathers. My paternal grandfather was a man of less words and more anger. We were very scared of him, so we used to hardly stay at home. Most of the time we would spend in our aunt's place with my cousins.

But one thing I distinctly remember is the walks to the MCEME temple in Trimulgherry. It used to be a long walk but he made us do it. I did not realize the distance during my childhood as with cousins it was always fun doing anything. But now when I pass by the same place, I wonder how did I manage to walk for so long. And that too almost everyday!!

He hardly spoke, but the thought that he was around, was reassuring.

I also remember the songs he used to sing, Alak elahi ek hai. I sing the same to my children. He was a good singer with a baritone.  With his friends he was one of the most jovial persons around.

Maybe the fact that we were staying in Delhi and visited once a year did not allow the bond between him and I to grow much.

When he died there were lots of people who attended the funeral, that is when I realized what a gregarious person he was. Also he was the one who wanted to celebrate life, and his death. On his 1-year ceremony, dad hosted a big dinner party in his memory rather than having a dismal memorial. 

Today looking at that old man doing yoga and also silently monitoring the kids brought back memories.

Dear grandfather... Rest in peace!!!

Tryst with death???

Last week I underwent operation to rectify umbilical hernia. The doctor advised general anesthesia for the surgery. The surgery started, as usual, the OT team had a tough time finding a vein. They cited multiple reasons, including my obesity. But even when I was thinner, it was tough to find my vein. Nevertheless, the team finally found it and inserted the anesthesia.

I don't remember when the surgeon came and when the operation concluded (obviously!!). But post it, when the doctors were getting ready to move me back to my room, they found that I was not inhaling. Actually by that time, even I was awake but my body was not under my control. I was not able to make any of my parts move including my lungs.

The doctors in order to make me respire started hitting me. They also pinched me and pressed me under my ears. I could feel the pain but was helpless as I could not force my lungs to suck the air.

I could hear them say, Shashi breathe... Shashi Nandivada oopiri peelchukondi(saans lo, breathe) but could not do much.

It may be a very common situation in the operation theatre but for me, it was a tryst with death...

That is when I felt maybe this is what happens when you die when you so much want to live!! God brought me to his doorsteps but then sent me back. 

Thinking about this, I recollect the speech that my friend wrote for me, where I was opposing the topic, and which still holds good, man is definitely not the architect of his destiny.
The entire speech is in  one of my earlier blogs. Here is the link: http://iamshashikiran.blogspot.com/2007/06/man-is-architect-of-his-own-destiny-is.html

Lost and Not Found????

The fact that some one is looking for you, someone is waiting for you is so re-assuring. It makes you want to live. I really wonder what happens to people who are found to be missing(what a pun!!) and their well-wishers who wait for their arrival.

I have come across couple of incidents in the recent days that deals with missing people. Last week, I saw 2 episodes of Crime Patrol that spoke about missing women. Whatever may be the reason for disapperance, maybe intentional or pure fate, women are usually such an easy target for people, just because they "seem" to be fragile. 

The two episodes that I saw made me think of all the people who get lost due to some circumstances. My heart goes out to the kith and kin of the missing ones. 

But at the same time, I happened to watch "Gone Girl" movie. The whole plot was a shocker and a complete paradoxical of the issues that I had seen in CP. It was rejuvenating, but still it amazed me to think about the "Gone Girl", who created the missing of herself (oops did I just give the plot of the story!!!)

So the two different sources giving me completely adverse situations of missing has resulted into me losing into something oblivion. 

Well it also reminded me of a lost friend/acquaintance from school. She happened to be one of my closest friends in school for almost 3 years.

But then things turned bitter and we were no longer on talking terms. When I recollect those situations, I am "lost", probably at loss of words, loss of reasons why, what and when it happened. Not that I want my friend back, it never costed me anything to lose her, infact she was at a loss of a lot of things, IMO.

I tried looking for her, I believe almost all my class mates did, but she literally got lost in the world, with absolutely no contact with anyone, at all. 

Too many bereavements, I find myself deprived of words... Maybe this was all that I wanted to say!!!

Two stands in life...

This is all so hypocritical...
When we are depressed about not being able to achieve anything in life, we are advised to stay content with whatever we have.
At the same time, we are advised to not stay content and always try to achieve the next level in life.
How does man balance these two stands in life?
How does man not stay depressed and focus on the next big thing in life?

I see people around me and feel so proud of them all. They are all so good at hiding their problems and smiling & laughing along with others.
I really wonder how they are able to manage these two stands!!!

Feeling confused ~~~

jaag kabira jaag...

Na roko is lamhe ko
Na pakdo is saaye ko
yeh keval ek parchhayi hai
jo pehle kabhi na aayi hai
na aayegi phir kabhi
bas is pal mein tha iska
aana aur jaana
phir kyun bhaage hum iske peeche
phir kyun roye hum aansoon meeche
yeh aaj hain, kal nahin
yeh ab hai, iske baad nahin
jaag kabire jaag!!