Bollywood: Cacophony or Harmony?

I am confused by the two movies released this year which are polar opposites in content, in characters, in story, but somehow they both strike cord!

I am not here to say which one I like more, which one was hmm. It's my opinion and I can well "word" it here!

Movie One: Padmavat-i-: The story of valor and courage of Rajput Princess, married to a kind and an honorable king and being the object of affection of a malevolent person! A story of grandeur, Love, sacrifice and above all honesty and grace! Opulent sets and a beautiful and powerful performance by all three stars!

A movie which caused a lot of controversy before its release!!

A movie I coudn't wait to see in the theaters with my mom.

And then

Movie 2: Veere Di Wedding: The story of 4 chicas gallivanting in uber modern clothes and pretty much confused in what they want in life, oblivious to what they have while riding in their Bentley's but for sure displaying the tumultuous relationships of girls! It’s a story of how they navigate through failed or failing or restoring love lives. As for the stars... one new kid left me amazed as the Dairy Queen, one left me quite impressed as the divorcee  giving the nosy Aunti-ji’s exactly what they deserved and then the for the rest I am going to stay quiet!

A movie which is causing some controversy after its release!

A movie I could not even imagine watching with my mom.

And that’s the cacophony, in today's day and age how does such opposite content survive? Are we are audience confused in what cinema is? 

For me, what drew me to the theater for both these movies is the following: 

Movie 1- the story and the clothes!!!

Movie 2- the lack of them both!!! (Yep, tongue in cheek!).

Here is the harmony of Bollywood for me: Polar opposite content but still female driven movies! Which is so inspiring.

I am not here to give a movie review, trust me. What I am here to say is- I am confused! I enjoyed them both in unique way’s and that what leaves me confused.

Imagine a movie to be a canvas painting: Each scene is a stroke of brush, unique and all adds to the final canvas! When you look at it from a distance, they both are appealing and the canvas is the director's representation of the story!!!

Kudos to these story tellers, these artists!

For us, the consumers... we see, we cherish, we critique and we move on to the next canvas.

But honestly, Bollywood continues to confuse me and I now await the next canvas!

Candy Coated Hell

This is a term I heard on the Radio when the hosts were describing the post Halloween frenzy with kids. And I burst out laughing in the car: " Candy Coated Hell"

It is sorta true if you think about it. Ever since the kids are little we talk about, no sugar for the little one, please. I have seen my own two girls first hand with sugar in their system and their reactions. Yes my friends: 'Sugar High' is an actual term.

I have seen them running in circles after 2-3 chocolates. Friends and I have popped pop corn and laughed uncontrollably!!! Yes, you can mail me the “parent of the year award”!

"Candy Coated Hell"! It is an accurate description of our media filled lives... Its bright, its smiley and its happy, all the time.

The adults version of "Candy coated hell”: is filled with varying degrees of schmooze, perfect profile pictures, that one angle that makes you slim, the one strand coving your face to make it look natural, the one dress that accentuates, the kids trophies that adorns the walls... like I said its bright, its smiley and always happy!

But ask yourselves: Is it true?

Behind every 'angled picture" is years of beating yourself for gaining weight, not loosing enough and the confidence or lack of it that goes with the drama

Behind every 'kids trophy picture' is you hiding your own "not so kind moment" with the kids when they really pushed you over the edge.

Behind every ‘schmooze’ is the contrast of you rather being in bed with un-ending runs of Netflix.

I'd rather be here: 

Recently I got invited to a "Black and White Challenge" on facebook, concept is simple: Upload a black and white image with no humans just as you go on about your life, tag someone and do this for a week.

Capturing these black and white images made me think a little more..... what image can I capture for today that is raw, that is true and that is far away from this candy coated hell that we live in, we thrive in and we enjoy in!

And of course filled with hypocrisy, I upload the image of the day on social media after making it "perfect". You are welcome

Media is getting irresponsible.

I seriously avoided writing about the Aarushi Story. It’s not my story to tell, to comprehend, to judge or to imagine. I can only feel sorry for a child's lost life, workers family broken and grieving parents. I cannot even fathom the pain the two families might be going through.
But, Today, I read Shobhaa De's take on the whole saga.... and it got me thinking- How freaking inconsiderate. How childish and how inconsiderate!!
She is charging the parents guilty without any proof.

Quotes and My retorts:
De: "Grieving parents behave in a different manner. They are broken in spirit and rendered almost incoherent with grief at the loss of a loved one. An only child at that. Not these two, though....conduct displayed by Mr. and Mrs. Talwar appears a bit too calculated, even cold blooded to viewers."
Garima: Are you serious, you are charging the parents for the ghastly crime of their kid and you are saying the parents are cold blooded. Ms. De even says the ‘viewers’. I think she summarizes and goes over and talks about her view as the generalization of 'viewers'. Every grieving parent would deal with the issue at hand differently. If anything, I credit the Talwar’s for being steady and talk through it. It shows there strength in finding the truth.

De: "or a mother of a dead girl to project such steely determination during what must have been the most harrowing time of her life, seems a bit unnatural."
Garima: Again, the mother has not gotten a chance to grieve. It’s been over two years and no one knows why her child's life was taken. No one has been found, ever since the death there have been investigations, charges, leads, and more leads and more acquittals. She will have to be determined as to who did it. She has to be, else she will break down and cry and justice will not be delivered to her daughter! Hell yes, bow down to the mother for the steady pace!

De:"Their faces are stony, their eyes, strangely devoid of any emotion. When they mention Aarushi, they could as well be discussing their neighbor’s kid."
Garima: The Talwar's have to. They have not grieved, they have not said there good byes, to achieve the aim of finding the culprit, all they can do is cut off from the situation and deal with the day to day issues. No one will hear them through sniffles. They will only be heard if they shout!

De:"Here are two busy professionals - parents who claim they slept through the murders that were taking place a few feet away from their own bedroom. "
Garima: They had no idea that there kid will be slain in cold blood. They slept keeping their worries away. Probably peacefully knowing that everyone of their family is safe in the house. On any given night, at the end of the day, I am passed out as well. Does not make me irresponsible, just human.

De: "As of now, it’s a case of the perfect murder! "
Garima: This is the only thing I agree with Ms De. It definitely seems like a perfect murder so far.

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The reason Ms. De's post pissed me off, is “media trial”. Here is a person, a writer, a legend, in her own right who is going with the band wagon of 'Lets crucify the parents, someone needs to" What right, does ms De or the media, or you and me have to charge anyone guilty or not. They might have done it, they might not have. Don't judge the parents moves, mannerisms. They have a grief which none of us hopefully even have to fathom. They have a right to deal with the situation in the manner which makes them stronger and willed.
For a person like Shobhaa De, who has a huge followership and a respected stand, knowing very well that what she writes, will be considered golden, it seemed rather callous to go and make bold judgments as a third party. If nothing else, it seems very immature.
Where is the age old concept of "Innocent until proven guilty'