Are you kidding me?

Author: Anirban Das

Ranging from Corporate world to train rides, to talking animals, "Are you kidding me" is an excellent medley of humorous short stories by author Anirban Das.

I started to read the chapters randomly in the order of the choice of the titles which appealed to me the most. So, the first two stories which I read were a man creating a nuisance by snoring in a train and an experience of a first time passenger in the flight. I was laughing out loud in these stories.

But as I started reading the other stories, I found myself reading satire, mocking our reactions to certain situations which most of us encounter in our lives at one point of time or another. A few experiences I have been through myself, be it my own high expectations of what should have been vs what it actually is or falling prey to an enticing advertisement which promises you many things but nothing comes free under the cover. I could relate to the different characters in different stories, be it a student or an employee.

The writing is smooth and witty, and you just glide through the pages effortlessly and move from one story to another. The author deftly switches his style from the formal narration to the colloquial conversations very well. The transition is very smooth.

The Gubbara Yadav's adventure deserves a special mention, it is a brilliant piece of imagination.

If there is one feedback I had for the author, it was that the corporate humor is not understood by everyone. The audience is limited in that sector. So when one can widely relate to and appreciate the other stories, one tends to struggle a little bit to understand the nuances and nitty-gritty of the management world. So if those can be separated out in the future books, it would be an added advantage. Otherwise, it is a splendid piece of work. Hats off to you Anirban Das. Keep writing.

P.S - I am assuming that most of the stories have stemmed out from the author's real-life experiences and if this is correct, I do have a question to ask Anirban Das- Did you actually meet Jennifer Lawrence?  :)

Recommended : 👍👍👍👍

The Bagheera Chronicles : The Tiger King by R.B.Mage

A very quick breezy read from a first-time author Rahul Balaji, aka R.B.Mage, his pen name. It took me about an hour to finish it. The story revolves around a Rajput prince, who has to face the wrath of a curse bestowed on his ancestor to transform into a were-tiger every full moon and a witch, who can help him absolve of this hereditary curse.

The book engages you right from the beginning. It digs deep into the elements of fantasy, be it beads, potions, tea leaves, or crystal balls, you have them all. There is the evil sorcerer, the dark side, who has opposed the Tiger kings over generations and has always succeeded in killing them.
But this, time around, the Tiger king has an added advantage of his true love to battle against the sorcerer and get rid of the curse. There are the witches and the oracles who are already in place to assist the were-tiger fight against the dark side. Will they all succeed in battling the evil, forms the crux of the story.
It is a sort of a book where the stage is already set, everything is already in place, and it plunges into action right away. It is more like get, set, go. True love is already prophesied and revealed to the prince and the witch. And in no time, you reach the climax, all between two full moons, when the transformation actually takes place.

I would have liked to see the characters shape up, and slowly gain on their strengths. But considering that this is the first book in the series, there is a possibility that the author might talk more on the character development in the subsequent books.

But set aside certain qualms in the plot, the author's imagination is laudable. The palaces and the gardens are very beautifully described and the storyline is gripping. He has put in earnest effort in bringing the fantasy world alive and it is definitely commendable. Both the writing style and creativity are excellent.  I hope to see more books from the author.

 For a first time author, a job well done!!

Recommended : 👍👍👍
Especially for young readers and teens. They will definitely like it. 

The Notebook (2019- hindi film)

 It is one of those days I wanted a breather from a hectic routine and was looking for a very light movie with absolutely no baggage. And one such time I  picked up a movie slammed by critics for a good reason and did not do well in the box office. All for the sake of a wonderful review. And boy, I am not disappointed !!

One fellow movie buff wrote such a lovely review about this movie that I decided to give it a shot.
Set in the backdrop of the beautiful Kashmir, the plot centers around two teachers, who decide to give up everything to teach in a school in the middle of Wular lake in Kashmir. A retired army officer, Kabir decides to move to Kashmir from Jammu to take up the arduous job of teaching the kids in a school which has no basic amenities. Some of the dangers include snakes creeping into the rooms and dead body parts seen floating in the toilet flush. There is no electricity and people have to travel long distances in boats to get a signal on the phone.

He finds his only adult company in a notebook, a diary left by the ex-teacher of the school, Firdaus. Kabir follows the footsteps of Firdaus and gains the trust of the children.  He falls in love with her thoughts and writings.  He tries to trace her, but in vain. So he seeks solace by filling the rest of the diary with his own experiences.

One fine day, when Firdaus arrives, Kabir is gone from the school. All that is left to her is the same notebook filled with Kabir's words. And now, the job falls on Firdaus to find Kabir.

The movie has many flaws.  To start with the lead star cast is a big let down. The plot has many unnecessary side twists. That explains why the movie did not fare well.
How I wish, Shahrukh had been in this movie... sigh !!!!

But one cannot simply ignore the breathtaking shots of Kashmir. The movie is a visual treat right from the first scene. The snow-capped mountains, the beautiful Wular lake, the fields spread with lovely autumn leaves are beautifully captured. The tender emotions of the little children and their earnest interest in pursuing education rather than taking up arms are so heartwarming. The political tension runs as an undercurrent, always on the backdrop.

What I liked the best about the movie is its subtleness in all aspects, be it romance, humor or the underlying message it tries to convey. Some of the best moments of the movie are shot from a child's point of view. A child mistaking a grenade for a toy or picking up a gun not knowing the consequences strike a chord to all of us who know the fate of Kashmir.

Watch this movie for those little children who will instantly capture your hearts, watch it for that old-fashioned tender romance which is not usually seen in the movies these days and above all, watch it for our own Kashmir! A paradox on Earth, the heaven of bliss and an eternal fire of hell.

Recommended : 👍👍👍