Friday, January 31, 2014

Charlotte's Web

Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart. She was in a class by herself. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.

-EB White in Charlotte's web.

I'll use this much abused emo blog to thank the following people who can string together the meaning of life (more specifically, my life) for me:
Muchi
Jenni
Sharan
Shwetu
Dharini
Sherin
Henna
Joy
Pritish
Deng

At some point of time, something one of them has written has made me smile/smirk/finally get it

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Kagaz ke do pankh leke
Udaa chala jaye re
Jaha nahi jana tha, ye
Wahi Chala hai re
Umar ka ye tana-bana
Samajh na paye re
Disha hara, kemon boka
Monta re

-Swanand Kirkire in Lootera

I'll tell you why I like this movie. It's for all the wrong reasons: we drove an hour through placid corn fields, could not make the theatre attendant understand which movie we wanted to see, there was no samosa at the interval. Went through all this work for 2 hours of hearing Hindi on a big screen. The movie was beautiful, frame by frame. I dint like that Ranvir guy. But Sonakshi got to me, with her clumsy, artless lust for a strange man. Her sheltered world that becomes brightly exciting. Her gorgeous sari's. 

I loved this movie because I miss bollywood. There, I said it. I miss how it surprises you sometimes. How it's Delhi 6's and Swades' and Delhi Belly's exist and charm you. I crave those 3 hour long extravagances and Gulzar's lyrics. I want that overpriced samosa in the interval. 

What should I do? I wasn't so sappy before. Acidic would be the best summary of my attitude to the Indian film industry. 4 years away from India, and I'll be clutching the weirdest figments of nationality. I recently found myself defending Bollywood. I have a mini pantheon of gods in my car. I read the Indian Express on occasion. 

People move. I moved when I was 21,when I did not think about the weight of decisions. Heck, could barely spell that word. 

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Aur bhi kuch tha, but now I forget what it was :)