The Post- Movie

Plot Review

A Steven Spielberg film starring the stalwarts - Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks , the credentials say it all - a classic which leaves u spell bounded . The plot is set in 1971 where the press first published the Pentagon papers which unveiled the nature of the military involvement of U.S. Government in the Vietnam war . The story revolves around Kay Graham , the first female publisher of Washington Post , and the struggles she has to face being a woman. In the times when every statement she makes is scorned at , she takes a rebellious decision to publish the Government secrets and stands by it . Deftly played by Meryl Streep , dignity personified , she has a regal aura around her . Yet she subtly brings out the vulnerability in her character . And very highly complemented by Tom Hanks , who plays the role of her editor Ben Bradlee . He sinks into the character so smoothly - the little trivia that he never sits in his chair but is either seen sitting on the table , or standing with one leg on the table or sitting on the floor with all the papers spread , does not go unnoticed . He plays the guy on the field who gets the job done . He is Kay’s rock solid support when she has to make the difficult decision of going against the Government . And what more to say , it’s a Steven Spielberg film , such meticulous screen play , such technical brilliance . One of those classics delivered by Steven Spielberg yet again . My verdict - Don’t miss this film !! One of those rare masterpieces which come once in a while .

Recommended : 👍👍

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UnConventional Friendships

Four months ago, I had written for a short story contest - sparsh from QuoteUnquote. Mine was not a winner , nevertheless they have published a selected few stories on their site. Mine is one of them. Many thanks to Meenal Dhall Saxena for suggesting this and Pragna Kolar for her thorough review and edits. Read on !!!

UnConventional Friendships

Unconventional Friendships

A young girl coming of age is in a quest of ideal friendship. She seeks out friends in her college, of like-minded, same age people in her neighborhood. But what she doesn't know is that unknown to her own self, she has already forged deep bonds with a few who will change her perspective about friendships entirely. But will it be too late before Aditi realizes it? UnconventionalFriendships is a journey of a girl who struggles to prove herself to people who matter to her, to someone who eventually finds out that she need not prove anything to whom she matters the most.

Read the short story at

Unconventional Friendships short story

LET'S START WITH FOREVER

Author : Sapna Bhog

Review:
A breezy love story between a business tycoon and a relatively fresh enterprenuer,the book revolves around them, their friends and families.Love and relationships being the central theme, it mainly is narrated from the perspective of Samir and Raashi, the protogonists of the love story. It is about their journey, how they let go of their egos and fall in love with each other . If you are in look out for a book on romance and a fast paced read, go for it. This is the second book from Sapna Bhog and Aarhan publishers and they have packaged it very neatly. The effort is clearly seen from a budding author and the honest publisher , both going all out to chase their dreams.

Recommended : 👍

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Origin

Author : Dan Brown

Review:

The last book I had read of Dan Brown was Inferno. The recipe of Dan Brown's books comprises of one or all of three ingredients - science, religion and art. He usually tends to bring out a fusion of these three branches. He brings to light the new scientific and technological breakthroughs ,questions the conventional religious catholic texts, frames and decodes the hidden ciphers behind a particular historic edifice or an artifact. Origin is no exception, it follows the same pattern. This time though, his central theme is his favourite topic - Genesis. A passing reference of Genesis has always been there in most of his books. A futurist and an atheist, Edmond Kirsch comes up with a scientific proof to solve the theory of Creation, which is condemned worldwide by the top religious authorities. The futurist is killed in Spain and the onus to unravel the scientific theory now lies with our protogonist, Robert Langdon. And so begins Langdon's quest amidst churches, museums and paintings in Spain to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. The book is much simpler to read than Inferno, which was filled with jargons. Most probably because it focuses on the religious theories of Creation and the theory of Evolution by Darwin, which we know already. The plot is very predictable, it is easy to guess the culprit after you finish the first half of the book. It's not one of those groundbreaking books like Da Vinci Code or Angels and Demons , but it is definitely a fast read and keeps you hooked till the end. And there is always so much to learn from Dan Brown's books - be it astonishing places or works of art which you never knew existed, or a significance of a particular place or a belief which you never questioned before. They are always enlightening. My only complaint has always been that they get a bit too technical for a layman to understand - it happens in this book as well , but to a much lesser extent than Inferno or Decision Point. To summarize, a thumbs up from my end . Read this book , you would'nt be disappointed.

Recommended : 👍

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Thor- Ragnarok Movie

Plot Review

Hulk- wow, Hela- super wow, Thor and Loki- supreme wow!! An awesome movie full of humor and witty one liners. It is completely cut off from the previous Thor movies. Do not expect the royal Asgard and the visual richness . This one fits more into the Avengers category with machines, guns and spaceships. Ragnarok signifies the destruction of Asgard , and so the central theme is chaos and annihilation, but it is taken in a very light vein. Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston are as charming as ever !! As usual, hard to choose which one is better. Cate Blanchett is a welcome addition , she is too good and Hulk is adorable . A hilarious ride with the two gorgeous Gods of Asgard, this movie can be watched again and again . A big thumbs up!!!

Recommended: 👍👍

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Movie :Chocolat

Plot Review:

With the release of 'Murder on the Orient Express' featuring Johnny Depp and Judi Dench around the corner, Depp movies are back on television. They were showing Donnie Brosco the other day, and yesterday it was Chocolat in the air. Had watched this movie 12 years back , and was glued to it then, and it had the same effect yesterday, it is magical. It is one of my two favourite Depp movies, the other one being Finding Neverland. This movie features Judi Dench as well in one of the vital roles.The story is set in a quaint French village, the nomadic chocolatier along with her daughter moves from one place in Europe to another, spreading the taste of chocolate wherever she goes. She uses the excuse of the powerful North wind which pulls her out when it is time to move on from one village to another. In this journey, she arrives in this little village, which is governed by a highly conservative Mayor who thinks denial is a virtue. As the villagers drift more towards her liberal attitude, the Mayor tries to hold on the strings hard but eventually succumbs to the taste of chocolate. Johnny Depp plays a river gypsy, who is shunned by the village people but is accepted by the chocolatier. The movie in a serious light is a combat between the conservatives and the liberals, but what attracts you more is the lighter vien in which it is taken. It is picturisque showing the beautiful French country side. The confectionary , the making of chocolat and how the village people lead their simple lives is a feast to watch. They love the pleasure of simple things and at the same time take their sermons seriously. But when it is time to make a choice, they struggle with it, but finally the decision has to be made. The movie is a treat, it's an old movie but one of those which will drift you to another world. It is just not only Johnny Depp, the North wind as well has the enchanting power to pull you into the world of this chocolat smitten town.

Recommended : 👍👍

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Vanvaas

Jai Shri Ram
Mukh mein hain chinta,Gambir hai chaal,
Honton par liye ek hi naam,
Lakhan ke sang ghanghor van mein,
Siya ko khojne nikal Pade Ram.

Pita ne kaha tum rajya sambhaalo,
Mata ne kaha chalo Vanvaas,
Ram ko kabhi na tha rajya ka moh,
na dhan ka lobh, na mukut ki aas.

Kaikeyi par bhaari pad gaya chaal,
Pati ki mrityu, Bharat ka krodh,
Lakhan chale van Ram ke sang,
Urmila chali nindiya ke godh.

Samay beet chala panchavati mein,
Pashu pakshi bhar sundar tha van,
Dukh ko bhool, parijan se door,
Khush the Sita, Ram, Lakhan.

Ek din swarn hiran jo aaya,
Rikht kuteer, Sita ko na Paaya,
Kator niyati, sab kuch yeh haare,
Dashrath ke do raj dulaare.

Ek vishal pakshi tadap raha tha,
shwaas shwaas par ek hi naam,
Anth kaal mein kare pratiksha,
Jatayu japta Jai Shri Ram.

Siya ko harke le gaya Ravan,
Ambar mein udta Pushpak Vimaan,
Ek baat na suni Jatayu ki,
Krodh mein har liye uske pran.

Kahaa hogi Siya, kya uska haal,
Vichalit man aur deh hai kaamp,
Kaun yeh Ravan, kahaa ka Raja,
Samjhe nahin ek stri ka vilaap.

Chalte chalte pahunche Kishkinda,
Ek booda Brahman kare unhe pranam,
Pehle jhalak mein pehchaan gaya woh,
Hanuman ka naman sweekar lo Ram.

Vali tha Kishkindha ka Raja,
Ravan ka mitr aur ati balwaan,
Sugreev tha uska bahishkrit bhrata,
Uske man mein Ram ka dhyaan.

Dhwand mein bula liya vali ko,
Peet peeche kare kayar ka kaary,
Maar diya use apne vaan se,
Sugreev ko vaapas de diya Rajy.

Vali ne jab unhe dukh se dekha,
lajjit aur apraadit Ram,
vachan de diya us vanar ko,
tohre vaan se chal basenge shyaam.

Vaanar chal pade har disha mein,
Sita kaa na koi naam o nishaan,
vishal roop dhar kiye samundar paar,
Lanka pahunche Pavan sut Hanuman.

Hanuman ne Siya ko doond nikaala,
Ashok Van mein thi woh Sayani,
Ram ka naam japti woh baiti,
roti bilakti Sita Rani.

Saksham Raja, ek priya bhraata,
Adbhut yodha, shaastron ka gyaata,
ghamand mein apna buddhi gavaaya,
Ravan Lanka ko jalta paaya.

Samundar paar aake pahunchi,
Vanar Sena Lanka ke dwaar,
Shakti mein Uttam, maya mein nipun,
Asur sena hai takraane taiyyar.

Anth hua Dashmukh Ravan ka,
Bhishan Yudh mein Asur gaye haar,
Saty ki jeet, Dusht Sanhaar,
Ramayan ka yahi hai Saar.

Manthan

Author : Utkarsh Pandey

Book Review:

Manthan is the first book of author Utkarsh Pandey and is published by Aarhaan publishers. It was a  book from a new author and publisher. But as I like mythology, I thought I will give it a try. And when I started reading the book, I could not put it down.

According to Hindu Mythology, we are currently living in the Kaliyuga, where the whole world is ruled by chaos. There is greed, jealousy, anger and lot of negative emotions with in people. At this time, it is prophesized that Lord Vishnu will incarnate as Kalki to bring the end of this chaotic period.

The author toys with this idea as to what happens if Kalki is born today? The story revolves around a boy called Vasu whom the Gods believe is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. But Vasu is not bestowed with any super natural powers by birth. This is the journey which Vasu has to undertake for his own transformation and self-realization. The Gods guide him from time to time and equip him with weapons needed to destroy the evil force. He is also supported by a able set of individuals to accomplish his mission. But Vasu, being an ordinary boy struggles and many a times stumbles to come to terms with the responsibilities which are forced upon him. The story is mainly about the churn of his emotions, a Manthan of his thoughts.

His main adversary, Kali is depicted as the person who can control human minds. His powers lay centered in few objects he has shrewdly rooted at holy places, which in turn pollute the human minds. To destroy these key objects, Vasu has to acquire the supreme weapons and weaken Kali. The plot banks heavily on mythological facts, especially from the time of Krishna Avatar. So Vasu is shown to be retracing the journey undertaken by Lord Krishna and the Pandavas and other characters from the Mahabharata.

It is a very gripping story, and the author has done a lot of research, especially when he is dealing with holy places with mythological significance. And he is fitted them so beautifully in the flow of the plot. This book was a full on surprise package. I loved the plot the first time I read it. Utkarsh Pandey has a brilliant imagination. Don't miss reading this book .

Recommended : 👍👍

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Movie :Jab Harry met Sejal

Plot Review:

Jab Harry met Sejal- went with high expectations , came back completely dejected. Really disappointing that a director like Imtiaz Ali , who has given us movies like RockStar , Jab we met and Tamasha , someone who is known to comfortably blend an off- beat tale Into the main stream commercial Hindi Cinema , can make a movie like this. We do have the towering Shahrukh Khan and the spontaneous Anushka Sharma but nothing can save the shallow story line !!! Even Jab We Met was a romantic movie , but it was such a refreshing one !! Hurts to say this to a Shahrukh Khan movie - but a big thumbs down !!!

Recommended:👎👎