PUPPET AND LIFE

"You have the right to love 

and be loved as well. 

The right to, not just break but, shatter from your shell.

Run free, run proud 

sing to me and sing it loud. 

Slacks and dresses spinning and twirling, 

backs and arms bending and curling. 

Dance like the puppets do 

not seeing the strings touching you. 

please puppet master loosen your grip 

please god let his hand slip...."

​

 by Anthony Jarell Alexander, September 2011

Varun Narain's creation

"Puppets are actors though not human beings. Nor are they barely bits of woods and rags. Just as a mask is considered as 'the other face of man', Puppet is in fact, the Mask complete, from which the human actor has withdrawn, not to be disassociated but to be united with subtler objectivity for exploring yet another dimension of Theatre - yet another plane of reality". 

As the famous Mr. Richard Pischel said, "It is not improbable that the Puppet play is in reality everywhere, the most ancient form of dramatic representation." But if we dig more to find the place of origin of puppetry... well there is controversy. But the majority says, puppetry have originated in India earlier than 5th century BC, no country can perhaps claim such a long tradition in this form of art. In ancient tantric tradition and also according to the Vedanta, the essence of human life is referred to as the Ojas or the life-giving force. 

Famous puppeteer and my professor from MCRC Varun Narain and his puppet

Realising the complete parallel of the art of puppetry, where the Puppet is nothing but the reactive-self, manipulated by the external manifests - that is the puppeteer, making it possible...

Varun Narain's Creation 

Now the question is, is there any psychological reason behind making puppets? Well... well... well... we all have a strong desire to escape reality. Psychologist calls it 'wish fulfillment'. The Puppet's power of offering escape from reality through wish fulfillment is the secret of its surprisingly universal appeal which comes through identification, not with any of the Puppets but with the Puppeteer. Perhaps the largest prejudice towards puppetry and its contribution to psychology was evident in the witch hunts in Europe.

As Civilization advanced it was recognized that Puppets do not only mystify, but they also do entertain. The old traditional puppetry has been reinvigorated and Puppets have been successfully introduced to many new spheres of activity, such as education, therapeutic, rehabilitation of handicapped children, propaganda, advertising cinema and television. It has been recognized that there is no limit to the power of Puppets to provide aesthetic entertainment.

Farhatulla Beig and some local kids interacting with string puppet

Actually, puppetry can send a message more effectively and efficiently and in a non-threatening way to the children and parents and as well as to the mass than any other medium. Messages like on sex education or hygiene or communal harmony or infanticide. Puppetry can be a teaching aid in the classroom, no matter what type of Puppets you are using. A simple cut out can be more effective than a chalk n duster in the blackboard. It allows children to escape in their imaginary world. It not only delivers information but touches our inner self and awakens our subconscious mind, brings out our fear, regression.

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@anindita

FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE

​

Over the years, I have learned that 'Freedom is never free.' Freedom costs us more than just sweat and blood or whatever we are forced to give.  It costs us the lives of our fathers, our sisters and brothers and many more. But while freedom is never free, we have to remember that, it has been bought at a great price and with it comes to great responsibility. As I stepped inside the great yet notorious cellular jail, a chill gone down my spine. And soon I realized that what actually freedom means. The twilight hush, the lazy evening sky, and a retiring sun may set our mind free but the boundary wall won’t let you go too far. As if, I am a kite but my movement is maneuvered by the invisible kite man. Though there were many visitors still I felt alone. The corridors, now echoing with the juvenile chirps of the young ones. But the silent screams of our brave heroes could be heard. 

Amar Jyoti: The Eternal Flame

Memorial to honor the first World War Indian soldiers and the Freedom Fighters

Cellular Jail in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India, stands as a dark reminiscence of the British rule in the Indian subcontinent. This most dreaded and grueling colonial prison situated in the remote archipelago was used by the British particularly to exile Indian political prisoners. Isolated from the mainland, this jail, also referred to as Kala Pani (where Kala means death or time and Pani means water in Sanskrit) witnessed the most atrocious punishments imposed on prisoners. India’s struggle for independence saw imminent freedom fighters like Batukeshwar Dutt and Veer Savarkar being incarcerated in this jail. The jail, completed in the year 1906 acquired the name ‘Cellular’ because it is entirely made up of individual cells for solitary confinement. It originally was a seven prolonged, puce-colored building with central tower acting as its fulcrum and a massive structure comprising honeycomb like corridors. The central tower had a large bell for raising alarm and also during someone going in gallows. The building was subsequently damaged and presently three out of the seven prongs are intact. The Jail, now a place of pilgrimage for all freedom-loving people, has been declared a National Memorial. The jail museum here draws your memories back to those years of freedom struggle.

The path to History

The Tower

Those ropes and....

It was my fourth visit to the jail, yet every time I feel, there are more stories to come out, need to be told. But, who will tell us? The inmates had been killed or might had been silenced by the stroke of time. Only this mute spectator, the Jail, standing along with the Peepal tree, and without uttering a single word telling a lot that mere words can describe. Tears were rolling down the cheeks, grief and sadness engulphed my heart. I was eagerly showing my kids every corner of the cells and corridors and telling the stories I have heard earlier.

Our past laid behind this lock...

So many stories...

The chair of notorious General Barry

Oil machine for coconut oil.....
But in place of a bull, our freedom fighters were made to do the bull work

The freedom fighters in hundreds were sent to the island where they remained under the custody of jailer David Barry and military doctor Major James Pattison Walker. Notable freedom fighters confined in the jail included Batukeshwar Dutt, Diwan Singh Kalepani, Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi, and the Savarkar brothers - Babarao Savarkar and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar among others. Being in solitary confinement the Savarkar brothers were unaware of each other’s presence in the same jail for two years. Many freedom fighters in the jail went through inhuman and unimaginable tortures, the very thought of which brings chills down the spines. The jail drew attention when its inmates observed hunger strikes in the early 1930s. Bhagat Singh’s associate in the freedom movement, Mahavir Singh went on a hunger strike in protest of such cruel treatment but died when authorities tried to feed him milk forcibly which went to his lungs. His body was thrown into the sea. In 1937-38 following intervention by Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore the government decided on repatriating the freedom fighters.

From the Roof

My kids were pretty shaken seeing the rough clothes meant for the prisoners and the torture tools used by General Barry. But they should know that the freedom they are enjoying didn't come easy. They are standing on the sweat, blood, and flesh of our freedom fighters. The road was never easy, it wasn't meant to be.

Some quick note on Cellular Jail:

When was it built: From 1896 to 1906

Who built it: British

Time took: 10 years

Where is it located: Port Blair, the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Why was it built: As Solitary Confinement

Architectural Style: Cellular, Pronged

Visit Timing: 9.00 am to 12.30 pm, 1.30 pm to 4.45 pm

How to Reach: Port Blair is well-connected with many cities of mainland India by sea and air.

Light & Sound Show

It regularly holds Light & Sound (Son-et-Lumiere) shows on India’s freedom struggle in Hindi and English excepting on every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The price of a ticket for The light and sound show is Rs. 50/- per adult. (rates may be revised)

P.S. I have visited the place in 2019, 2009, 1993, 1992

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@anindita

PHOBIA

Most of us have phobias and at any point in time and we can develop a complete new phobia. It's not abnormal to have phobias, but we should not be tied down by that. We can have multiple phobias or just a single one. If you find, your daily life is getting disturbed because of such phobia, you can always get yourself help from a medic or a good friend. 

Now let's talk about what is a phobia- A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder defined by a persistent and excessive fear of an object or situation. The phobia typically results in a rapid onset of fear and is present for more than six months.

Phobias can develop around any object or situation, and some people may have multiple phobias. They can be roughly categorized into two groups: specific phobias. complex phobias. But some study says, there are three main groups of phobias which include:

• Specific (simple) phobias: which are the most common and focus on specific objects.
• Social phobia: which causes extreme anxiety in social or public situations, and
• Agoraphobia: which is the fear of being alone in public places from which there is no easy escape. Some experts have divided them into two- specific and complex( social+ agoraphobia). 

Specific phobias

These are phobias about a specific object or situation, such as spiders or flying. They often develop in childhood or adolescence and for some people, they will lessen as they get older.

Some of the more common specific phobias are:

-animals (such as dogs, insects, snakes, rodents)

-the natural environment (such as heights, water, darkness, storms, germs)

-situational (such as flying, going to the dentist, tunnels, small spaces, escalators)

-body-based phobias (such as blood, vomit, injections, choking, medical procedures, childbirth)

-sexual phobias (such as sexual acts or fear of nudity)

-other (such as certain foods, objects, costumed characters)

Complex Phobia

Social phobia 

Social phobia can be extremely debilitating and can make it very difficult to engage in everyday activities such as:

-talking in groups or starting conversations

-public speaking

-speaking on the phone

-meeting new people

-talking to authority figures

-eating and drinking in front of others

-regular trips out to the shops or bank

-going to work

Agoraphobia

If you have agoraphobia you are likely to experience high levels of anxiety and may avoid a variety of everyday situations such as:

-being outside the home alone

-being in open spaces

-being in a crowd of people

-traveling by car, bus or plane

-being in enclosed spaces such as a lift or in a shop

Well, as the study shows, almost all phobias can be treated, only that we have to identify early and have a willingness to get over with it. Next time if you find someone with some phobia, extend your hand to make the person overcome the situation, rather labeling him or her as a freak. Who knows, what have you got-watch out. 

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@anindita

A CUP OF TEA AND A STORY

TEA …does this word strike a chord in your mind, or do you miss a heartbeat if you miss your morning cup of tea. Oh! Dear, these are nothing meant for me. Am I supposed to be an out of the world one!!! Well! For me, tea is a delicacy, a memory, a story to go on from generation to generation. My great-granddad was very much fond of tea and at that time, says about in the 1950s it was a luxurious affair indeed. My grandmom used to make a big pot full of tea in the early morning. Other old village men used to gather in our courtyard and eventually they all ended up having tea with a daily dose of big talks. Though I couldn’t experience any such things, but the description was so vivid that I felt as if I have seen all. For me, tea was always meant special. While traveling on a long-distance train, the nasal tone of the hawkers in the station, shouting for “CHAI! CHAI!” always made me more curious about the drink. I knew I won’t get a better tea from these vendors, yet every time I would buy in the hope of getting a better taste to remember long.

Not only me but for many of us, tea holds a special place. In some cultures making tea is a part of rituals, it’s an art. There is various way of making tea to appease our tea-thrust. To bring out the right flavor, taste, and color of the tea, is a matter of precision. Talking about tea is like an epic experience. My good friend Samya Roy once enlightened me with some beautiful inputs on Indian Tea varieties. In the Indian market, we get mainly three major varieties of Tea—green Tea, Kangra& Orthodox.

Now a day’s people are more fascinated with green tea for its antioxidant property and nutrients. Green tea helps to detox your body and melts your stubborn fat. So, while a cup of green tea detoxifies your body, the toxic contents accumulate in the kidney. Hence, it is advisable to take plenty of water as well to flush out those toxins, otherwise, the effect may differ. On a funny note, one surly would lose fat, once the person will pluck the leaves by self and make tea out of it.

Kangra tea has a distinctive flavor. The subtle taste and smell can make your morning happier. It doesn’t produce dark liquor, as it is leaf-based. People, like my dad, who enjoys black tea, Kangra could be a wise pick for them.

In general, we drink orthodox tea. It has two different varieties, leaf and CTC or crushes, tears and curl. Well, leaf further can be divided into – leaf, half dust, and dust. CTC, on the other hand, has numerous varieties too, like—PD, OF, BP, BOP &, etc. Most of the street side tea sellers use the low-quality CTC tea only, thus we get color but no flavor. People, who love to have milk infused tea, use CTC and at the end of preparation, they tend to add pinches of leaf tea to get the flavor as well. One may get the best quality CTC tea from Assam’s tea gardens, where it has taste and flavor but may cost a bit heavy. Darjeeling tea is widely marketed and It is processed as black, green, white and oolong tea. When properly brewed, it yields a thin-bodied, light-colored infusion with a floral aroma. Some may like Nilgiri tea as well and draw a comparison between Darjeeling and Nilgiri varieties. Darjeeling tea is a very light-colored infusion with a mossy-vegetal and some may even say fruity flavor. The flavor tends to last on the palate for a long time and is very palatable. Nilgiri tea, on the other hand, is known for its extremely strong aroma.

Oh!!! We have chatted over a long tea story. Without taking much of your time, I may conclude with a little tip. Take a small amount of tea, and start rubbing it with your thumb on to your palm. If those tea granules pinch your skin, then it’s fresh tea. And if it doesn’t pinch, it’s stale. Tea is very sensitive and it loses its taste within two to three months of plucking. Next time you go for a tea shopping remember these, and you will get good quality for sure…. Bon Apetit!!

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@anindita

#এলোমেলো_কিছু_কথা

"ভালোবাসি ভালোবাসি
এই সুরে কাছে দূরে জলে স্থলে বাজায়
বাজায় বাঁশি
ভালোবাসি ভালোবাসি।
আকাশে কার বুকের মাঝে ব্যথা বাজে
দিগন্তে কার কালো আঁখি
আঁখির জলে যায় ভাসি
ভালোবাসি
ভালোবাসি ভালোবাসি।"

আচ্ছা ভালোবাসি এই ছোট্ট কথাটা বলতে গলা শুকিয়ে যায় , হাতের তালুতে ঘাম জমে , পা ঠান্ডা হয়ে যায় , কানটা বিনা পারমিশনে লাল হয়ে গিয়ে নিজেকে বিচিত্র প্রাণী বলে মনে হয় ,,,,, আরো কত কিছু হয় । অথচ এই একটা কথা সারা বিশ্ব জয় করে নেবার ক্ষমতা রাখে । রুখে দিতে পারে কোনো ঘনিয়ে ওঠা ঝড়। একটু বেশি কাব্যিক হয়ে গেল কি? বাস্তব জীবনে একটু অন্য চিত্র তাই তো --- পরিবার , পরিবারের সম্মান, মাথা নাক কাটা যাওয়া , সামাজিক নিরাপত্তা, সামাজিক মর্যাদা আরো কত কি সামনে এসে দাঁড়ায় । তাই অনেকের রাত্রিই ভোর হয় না, চোখের জলে বা নির্বাক কান্নায় ভিজে যায় বালিশ। সকালে উঠে ফোলা নাক চোখ অনেক কিছু বলতে চায় -- একটু অভিনয় আর হালকা কাশিতে গলার সুর বদলে " এক কাপ আদা দিয়ে চা খেলেই সর্দি কমে যাবে " ডায়লগ সেই ঘনিয়ে আসা মেঘকে উড়িয়ে নিয়ে যায়। বাবা মা , পরিবার ভেবে নেয় যাক এযাত্রায় বেঁচে গেল আমাদের ,,,, ইত্যাদি প্রভৃতি। মনের মাঝে অসংখ্য ডমরু বাজে , চিৎকার করে বলতে ইচ্ছা করে " সব ঝুট হ্যায় , সব ঝুট হ্যায়" ,,,, স্নানঘরে অকারণ জলের ছপাৎ ছপাৎ , চোখে শ্যাম্পু চলে যাওয়া , ,,,,, সব , সব কিছু অন্য কাহিনী বলতে চায়। চেনা মুখ দেখেও মুখ ঘুরিয়ে নেয় , কি দরকার জিজ্ঞাসা করলে যদি প্রশ্নটা ঘুরে আসে । সেই যে আনন্দ সিনেমায় বলেছিল রাজেশ খান্না , জীবন টা একটা বড় অভিনয়ের স্টেজ । আমরা সবাই নিজের নিজের পার্ট করে চলেছি । যেদিন ডায়লগ ফুরাবে সেদিন অবসান হবে এই নাটকের , অবসান হবে তোমার আমার অভিনয়ের। তার মাঝে যেটুকু সময় কেন আমরা দুটো ডায়লগ নিজের মতো বলবো না --- চিৎকার করে বলবো , আমি তোমায় ভালোবাসি। সংসার , পরিবার , সমাজ সব কিছু সামলেও তোমায় ভালোবাসি । ভালোবাসতে নেই কোন মানা , ভালোবাসা জানেনা কোন কারণ বারণ । তাই ভালোবাসি

"সেই সূরে সাগর কূলে বাঁধন খুলে
অতল রোদন উঠে দুলে
সেই সূরে সাগর কূলে বাঁধন খুলে
অতল রোদন উঠে দুলে

সেই সুরে বাজে মনে অকারনে
ভুলে যাওয়া গানের বাণী
ভোলা দিনের কাঁদন
কাঁদন হাসি
ভালোবাসি ভালোবাসি
ভালোবাসি ভালোবাসি!!

এই সুরে কাছে দূরে জলে স্থলে বাজায়
বাজায় বাঁশি
ভালোবাসি ভালোবাসি …" (রবীন্দ্রসঙ্গীত)
@anindita

TINTIN'S TRAVELAGUE

Brown pant, beige trench coat over the long-sleeve blue shirt.....spiked hairdo.....ahh you guess it right...we are talking about none other than our beloved Tintin, a Belgian reporter. Our childhood was blessed with this iconic character and his partner snowy, Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus. Tintin was not only a reporter but also an adventurer, traveler and an inquisitive character created by Hergé. Through his adventure, he took us on the other side of the world; some of them were fictitious also yet made us curious. His love and bonding with his pet cum friend snowy nourished every child's inner soul, and better to say, it has also nourished a grown-up mind with the twinkle of childlike imagination & reliving those by-gone days.

A few days back, while sorting some of my childhood collection, I just wondered how he traveled all over the world. His travel diary can be a travel goal for any tripper around the world. Therefore, I took out some time and try my hand in mapping the adventurous journey of Tintin with the help of my friend. So, here is my little gift for you Tintin lovers...... Avere Un grande momento.

Pic courtesy Internet 

Sneak peek:

Hergé was the pen name of Georges Remi.

The Adventures of Tintin is a series of 24 comic albums.

Tintin had been published in more than 70 languages.

More than 200 million copies sold.

If you like my write up, Do not forget to follow me for more, leave your feedback and feel free to share with your friends with the hashtag #kaleidoscopicwindow.

@anindita

EARTH'S MIGHTIEST HEROES

What comes in your mind when you first hear the word- Marvel? You think about jewels, diamonds and all other marvelous things in the world, but this Marvel means superheroes who save the day, Avengers who avenge the fallen, inevitable villains, gods with special hammers and axes, a sorcerer supreme who once was a doctor, an old soldier who doesn't age, a beast, mutants, spies, a genius, billionaire, playboy, a philanthropist whose greatest treasure is his friends and all other fantasy creatures you can ever imagine and so much more, in short Marvel Studios is the fantasy world of every kid. Stan Lee is the creator of Spiderman, Iron man, Captain America and all other supers who you love so much. Stan Lee with Russo Brothers brought these characters to live and now they have a special place in our hearts.

Pic Courtesy: Internet

From a personal point of view I love Iron man, I mean who doesn't, he never hesitates to put his life at stake when the world needs him, his attitude is so genuine, the cool manner in which he speaks, the confident way in which he walks, the casual manner in which he handles situations, the smarty- pants of the team, in short, Iron man is the best. The role is played by American actor Robert Downey Junior but in the latest Marvel film- Avengers: Endgame, Iron man died heroically when he snapped the infinity gauntlet turning Thanos and his troops into ashes. Iron man is irreplaceable and the world misses him very much or at least I do. He was a legend and he will be always alive in our hearts. I would like to thank Marvel Studios from the bottom of my heart for giving me a hero and an idol. At last, I would just say that a person is not born a hero or a legend, it is your hard work that makes you one and as uncle Ben said: "with great power comes great responsibility". Marvel Studios doesn't just show you fabulous movies but also gives you creative ideas to imagine, dream and turn it into reality, you just have to have the imagination and will to do it. ​

Here is the list of Marvel movies in order of release date, just for you only: Iron Man (2008) The Incredible Hulk (2008) Iron Man 2 (2010) Thor (2011) Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) The Avengers (2012) Iron Man 3 (2013) Thor: The Dark World (2013) Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) Ant-Man (2015) Captain America: Civil War (2016) Doctor Strange (2016) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) Thor: Ragnarok (2017) Black Panther (2018) Avengers: Infinity War (2018) Ant-Man and the Wasp (July 2018) Captain Marvel (March 2019) Avengers: Endgame (April 2019) Spider-Man: Far From Home (Now in theaters)

If you like my write up, Do not forget to follow me for more, leave your feedback and feel free to share with your friends with the hashtag #kaleidoscopicwindow.

@anindita (in association with Ananya Mahika)

FOOD, LOVE, AND NIGELLA

Cooking, for me, is just not a daily chore. Making food is an amalgamation of thoughts, love, and euphoria of creating something new. It's like the favorite movie quote of mine from Ratatouille, "surprise me." And yes, indeed, even most doable recipes are challenging when making them after a long time. Recreating the same aroma, taste, and addressing the thought we had while bringing it for the first time is undoubtedly Hell's kitchen.  Oh yes, sometimes it is like your first cook-chef love, Chuck Hughes.  

Pic Courtesy: Internet

When I start watching food shows, Anthony Bourdain and evil Gordon Ramsay was on my checklist. But slowly, I discovered that they are not actually the ones I am looking for. Here comes the most adorable, stylish, and close to my heart Nigella Lawson. I just fall in love with her, her style of cooking, her kitchen, and her way of conversing. The list is quite a long one. For the first time when I made strawberry compote after watching one of her Christmas shows, I was literally mimicking her. I was talking as if I am Nigella. My kids and husband had a great fun time seeing me trying to be fit into her shoes. 

​Time flies, but love for her just grows more profound. Recently, while hoping in the market, I bumped into some fresh Rosella. Immediately, I thought of her --- as if she was there to guide me to make homemade Rosella jam. Without giving a second thought, I bought a kilo of fresh Rosella. I looked at my baffled hubby darling with a smile and assured him for a mouthwatering delicacy. Back home, I washed them, peeled them with utmost care. As if those crunchy leaves are meant to be well-taken care of. A bowl full of Rosella leaves smeared with a pinch of salt, and a sprinkle of water was nicely tucked inside of microwave oven. Five minutes of micro with occasional stir made the leaves soft and smoother. Cover them and rest them for a few minutes, and in between, I made myself a cup of hot black coffee. It's again Nigella's style to binge while cooking. You never are going to feel low if you munch and drink while cooking. Play some music if you wish to, and no need to wait for a partner to dance. Do I sound crazy enough ---- oh yes, that's the magic. Uncovered the red velvety Rosella pulp and added sugar according to your taste. Now also add thin juliennes of seedless red chilies. Micro those for another five minutes and the jam are ready. I left the jam to cool down naturally, and then.... took out a big scoop of the velvety jam with a lovely texture of leaves and chili juliennes. A dash of lime while tasting was an extra bonanza. ​

​This is for you, my guiding angel Nigella Lawson ...My love and tribute -- homemade Rosella Jam with chili.

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Cinema- A Visual Art

Cinema is a visual art which reproduces the raw emotions and experience, beauty and the darker side of the life and communicates with millions. For me, cinema is not only a source of entertainment but also a continuous process to identify myself with the story or the character. Like, when I saw Erin Brokovich, I could see myself in the vulnerability and fierceness of Erin. Her fight, her righteousness, her success -- as if I can see a part of my life in that story, I could have been there...just like her. Aah.. Forget it...move on. There are many more in the list-- I wish...I wish...

Pic courtesy: Internet

Today I am going to share with you my three favourite movies - Harry Potter series, The Hundred Foot Journey and Bohemian Rhapsody. Let’s start with Harry Potter series. I love wizards and magic. Harry Potter series is first of this kind where a generation grows up along with the main Characters. My kids were small then. And seeing Harry and his friends were their favourite pass time, and mine too. Ron was so quite with golden hair, Hermione with her stubborn look and Harry as naive as he can be. They grew up and so my kids. The chocolaty cuteness faded away and unruly new beard started taking place. It was fun again to see them, through their characters, through their personalities. Harry Potter series is one of a kind, which is never going to fade away. The charm it has created, like a unbroken spell of Maleficent. Even today also, when I see any movie from the series, never felt bore or worn out. Hagrid, Snape, Damboledore and how could I forget Circus Black-- wow dear. The gallore, the bravery and the sorrows echo in my heart. The storyline, cinematography, VFX, music, costume and characterisation -- everything just happened to be perfect for me. I am an utmost Potter fan

Pic courtesy: Internet

Pic courtesy: Internet

Now come to The Hundred Foot Journey- a film from 2014. It’s about cooking, passion and pure rivalry between two restaurants and how they bond over the same passion they shared -- the cooking. An Indian family migrated to France and opened a restaurant over there. But they are not alone in the business. If you love cooking, this film is for you. Your passion, dedication and thrive to do better every time can take you to the top. Hassan shims you the way. If you are right, your rival also bows down to you and guides you to your destination. Watch it for pure joy...no string attached. A marvellous performance by Om Puri, Helen Mirren, Manish Dayal and Charlotte le Bon are to look out for. There is love, conspiracy, little sting of jealousy and determination to weed out every possible hurdle with grace. And even at the pick of success, Hassan didn't forget his family, his root, his mentor and love. That's where the film stands out with drama as a film, a complete package.

Pic courtesy: Internet

Last but not the least, Bohemian Rhapsody. This film released in 2018. The film is about legendary British music band Queen and also about the lead singer Freddie Mercury's personal struggle. Every song is so loud to settle deep inside my heart. The "Love of my life” is so close to my heart that no "under pressure" can take it away. As Queen says, "we are the champions, my friends" and "we will, we will Rock you" and absolutely, they did rock us, swing us with the music and rolls. If you love rock and drama from real life, this film is definitely for you. Rami Malek, Ben Hardy, Gwilym Lee, Joseph Mazzello gave stupendous performance. As if they have synched into the original character skin, specially, Rami as Freddie Mercury. I grew up listening under pressure and we will rock you. Queen is addiction; queen is passion and many more. The songs drive me crazy, insane but not any lunatic. I am wrapping up today a with some lines from Queen's we are the champions- "I've paid my dues
Time after time, 
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime
And bad mistakes
 I've made a few
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face But I've come through".

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New Year - New Beginnings

Today is the first day of the year. It's like a new diary with 365 blank pages and today is the first page to start with. It's entirely up to us, what we are going to write - good and bad, smile and sorrow, food &fun. But before taking a step, one must look back, as if, what we are leaving behind from the last year's party. Life is beautiful but it’s not a bed of roses either. It’s up to us to learn from the mistakes and undo those.

Pic Courtesy: Debarpan

A heart is like a clean slate so a day too. Love comes naturally, but it is we who teach ourselves to hate and to misjudge others. Why not take a deep breath, embrace the first rays of the sun and let the cool air play with your hair, while you let your soul take a silent resolution to spread love. It won’t cost you anything but would increase the power of acceptance. As a human being, you learn to rise even if you fall, you tend to do mistakes but you can rectify it, you live a life to learn, and that makes you special creation of the Almighty. Ohh too heavy words for the New Year to begin with. Let’s bring the house down and play some music as we have paid our dues day after day. And the fun part is, this year we have got a day extra- yess!! It’s the leap year 2020. Come join with me to paint the sky blue and pink, spread love in the neighborhood and plant more & more trees so mommy earth can breathe. Wish you all a very happy new year with good health and happiness.

@anindita

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Uo0JAUWijM&feature=share