Dhobi Ghaat

A must watch movie. It's definitely not an ordinary movie. You can call it a documentary. Whatever it is, I think everyone should watch it at least once. People exaggerated a lot about not understanding the movie. But in my opinion, there is nothing that can't be understood. It's a very simple movie. There is nothing to predict from what is happening. It is just observing each character, how its life is and what things happened in its life in one of its phases. If you go with expectation of climax, anticlimax and spice, then it’s a complete letdown for you. But if you want to see 100% reality, then this is the movie. You'll know a part of Mumbai here. Read the complete name of the movie before going. It is Dhobi Ghaat (Mumbai Diaries).

@People who haven't seen it, don't read ahead before watching the movie.

This movie is like reading few pages of a diary of a person who is constantly observing Mumbai's Dhobi Ghaat and people living around it. It's not only about the dhobi guys. It is also about the people because of whom dhobi guys get their bread and butter. And hence the name of the movie is.

Movie revolves around 4 characters - Arun a painter who is a divorcee but a successful artist (Aamir Khan), Munna who is a dhobi guy who left his home in Bihar at the age of 8 to get adequate food (Prateik Babbar), Shy (or Shai) who is a foreign-returned girl working for some investment related banking (Monica Dogra), Yasmin  who is a newly married innocent girl (Kirti Malhotra) and their stories. Their stories are not completely disjoint. They are related but not so straightforward.

Arun is kind of a loner for whom his art is the focus; nothing else. He is not a person who can commit to anyone. But he is very good by nature like an ascetic. Munna is like Prabaker from Shantaram. Mumbai's population has huge percentage of such people. There isn’t too much fascinating about this character. But the story around it is good. Shy is amazing. What amazed me of her is her openness. Her daring to befriend Munna, to roam around with him brings some strangeness. She is a complete foreigner by nature and culture. This openness of foreigners and still maintaining humanity has always amazed me. And Yasmin is a non-existent character. She is very innocent and helpless at the end which is upsetting but unfortunately the fact.

There is one more character who I can't forget is the neighbor of Arun who never speaks anything because she had been under some shock. If it was a spicy movie, she would have spoken up something after looking at Arun at the end. There also Aamir, Kiran didn’t miss to be realistic.

One of some other minute things that attracted me was Arun's house. The bulletin board, the huge painting board, colors around it, books; I loved it. I'm planning to buy a white board here in Pune. Along with that I'm going to have one or more shelves for books and such painting board in my house. So that even if I'm not good at drawing/painting, I'll have something to try my hand on, anytime I'll want. I'm going to learn it. Though this all appears childish, I believe our house shapes our mind.

The other thing is Shy's hobby of photography. It made me think of getting a good camera and use it to keep memories of people/places whom/which I'll meet.

Today

Today was one of the most talkative days. I have been assigned tasks of support in this sprint. So people keep talking to me and I keep responding. Today whole day I went on talking. On some or other topic.

Then when I was on the way to home, I met a friend - Gautam. Usually when we meet we start fighting. He says I start fighting. May be. :D But we usually fight on some concepts. I feel them intellectual sometimes.
Anyway, today we didn't fight. He gave me good tips of driving. I needed them. I remember nobody told me initially that in the winter, when the engine goes cold, we have to start the bike with kick atleast once in the morning. And I had completely dicharged the battery because of this unawareness. :D So I needed tips. He gave me few. Then we went on a topic of girls' way of thinking and that of boys. This was not fight (which anyone will obviously think as the topic of fight especially when a girl and a boy are talking). We listened to each other. (I can't believe it now. :D) And we agreed to whatever we both said. Then I gave him the book - "Why men don't listen and women can't read maps" which explains the brain structures, certain policies of men and women etc. He felt interested when I had told him about the book. I have read only 2 chapters of it. After 2 chapters I was very angry with God. So I left the book. Now he took it. We turned few pages of the book and actually tried few experiments given in the book. It was fun.

Thereafter we all roomies went for dinner. There again we talked a lot. And then now, I and one of my roomies went for drive. To drive on the roads where none of us had gone. We were lost. But we came back. It was fun to get lost. Driving is too good. But I'll enjoy it more with someone; anyone who can enjoy it equally. Pranit is going to be my passenger for next few days/months. Let's see if we can enjoy or if we keep arguing on the topic - "What to give importance to - Health and riskfree life Or fun and happening life?"

And at last this blog. Again I talked a lot. :) Certain changes completely change your life. Sometimes it is good to come out of old habits/old life. But I also don't want to lose my good habits that I developed in last 2 years.

How can I forget to mention? I had taken my bike to my work place today. :)

Quotes

"Change is constant, but it never reverts back."


"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." 
— Dr. Seuss


"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one." 
— C.S. Lewis


"The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference." 
— Elie Wiesel


"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together." 
— Marilyn Monroe

I set a personal record this week. I slept only for 22 hours in total in last 5 days. And looks like next few more days are going to be so. I love being busy like this. I can have a deep sleep at night, even if it is for 4 hours. Also, I see I did quite a lot of things. Looking forward to do still many more things and in a more efficient way! Let's see if I'm a different person than now.

Phulpakharu is getting more colors on its wings now. Maker has suddenly realized that old colors have become dull now and need a change. Lovely! Looks like a new era! Welcome welcome! :)

Wake up Sid again...

Whenever I watch Konkana's first day in Bombay in this movie, I feel motivated. Her definition of independence, her way to get a change in life, her saying - "Apna paisa kamao, apna paisa khud udao", her attitude; everything creates a positive energy within me. I completely agree with her definition of freedom. Also she says - "Dheere dheere sab theek ho jayega!" Isn't it true? Life brings drastic and complicated changes for you. However, everything goes fine as time flies. You change yourself accordingly. Gradually you adapt yourself to the situation. Sometimes you don't want to. You like the past more. But the present is too much different and you can't live by keeping yourself same as you were in the past. So you have to change. You change. Even though you try to resist, you change. Rate of change is more if you face the situation directly rather than keeping yourself away from it.

I believe one should be honest about himself; in every respect. When life changes, if we keep soothing ourselves by distracting away from the truth, we'll never overcome. Instead, we should face it. It troubles us but it makes us accept the truth. And gradually, everything goes fine. We are definitely a different person. But that's the need. That's the way my idol maker wants me to be. :)

Incapable to plan

Disclaimer: All sentences in this post are written with a freedom of every sense which is likely to cause the writing to appear insane. Any resemblance to sanity is purely coincidental.

My life is completely unplanned. Sometimes I feel it like a surprise, like an unexpected gift by Santa Clause. But sometimes goes very weird like an income tax raid. Creates all chaos around, I feel disappointed, upset, sad. Suddenly shadow of pessimism covers me all around. My mind can't bear it and tries to find a way to sooth itself. It reads something good, tries to talk to inspiring friends, watches movies, prays and what not. Sometimes it becomes optimistic again in very short time. Sometimes it takes long time. Then at certain point it gets tired. Then sleeps and wakes up only next day. Next day is new flow. New dawn. Everything new. Like a new paper to draw a new picture. And again with no plan of what to and how to draw the picture, takes the pencil and brush in hand. Everyday it wants a new picture. If it gets it, then it is fine. If not, then it has to be the best picture it had ever drawn.

Enough of soothing... No punctuation, no grammatical restrictions. Feels good sometimes. Let's concentrate on work now! Income tax raid reminds of EPSF. Only 2 days remaining! Zzzzzz....

Too lazy to grow up

Everyone around me has grown up now. And I'm still a kid. :(. Some people talk about career, some talk about making money, some talk about getting married, some talk about learning cooking, and I'm still the same. I had thought my best friend will be same like me and would not talk about marriage and all for next 10 years at least. But now he has also started talking about getting married. :(