Searching

We all are guilty of having watched gimmicky movies. Movies that seem interesting from the get go. And five minutes later we know that it is a gimmick. Well, this one isn't. Far from it.

Based on game mechanics, Searching is a mystery movie. But unlike any other movie I have watched before, this one evokes strong emotions. Not of anger or aggression. Rather subtle ones such as sadness and sympathy. Emotions I thought I had buried long ago. And that's not even the best part.

If I say the movie pays homage to Windows 7/XP (old tech), I wouldn't be telling the whole truth. It doesn't just glorify old tech, the movie's nostalgia quotient is through the roof. The way it uses old tech to elicit super strong emotions in its viewers; that's worth noting.

Subtlety and patience are the words to describe how this movie is made. I took screenshots for five months and that was it. I couldn't do it any longer. These guys spent much more time and effort, and screenshots are just the beginning.

And hey, it is not all nostalgia, the movie depicts a smooth transition to latest apple and google devices through the hands of its hero John Cho. Here's a funny tweet I really liked. But don't let it deviate you from the strength the movie carries. Its ability to evoke emotions. At the drag of an item, or drop of an event. The play with semiotics is brilliant.

This level of story comes from understanding the current cyber landscape and our comfort with it. And I hope to watch more such movies in future.

Below is my favorite scene. Feel free to share yours.

October

Every time I begin to write about a movie, I have read enough to know that I can barely add my two cents to what has already been written. This time around, I noticed several patterns. Guess this blog has more to do with those than the actual movie.

First, I feel the urge to write here every two years. Second, I am drawn to movies that have more gestures than dialogues. Third, I make excellent small talk at the movie theater.

Well, this movie made me cry in the end. That's what you expect from a good drama. Yes there are several reasons to why I cried. Of course, the older I grow, the more complex my emotions get. The internet says that it is a movie in a quest to define love. I say, internet is right.

I had recently gotten to know about the study of signs and symbols, semiotics. Now I watch each movie with this lens. It is more interesting. I have become better at picking cues from scenes and making sense of them.

Where do I begin? This movie is so good that I don't know how to talk about it without leaving out the important stuff. Every scene is so ordinary yet meaningful. This movie was so easy to relate to, I can't recall another similar story narrated with such simplicity. The one thing that stood out for me was the pure romanticism. Again, internet tells me that this movie is about unraveling the mysteries of human behavior. Most movies are. The aspects of behavior the movie focuses on, how eloquent that behavior is, all of this draws me to some movies over the rest.

I remember walking out the hall feeling energized. Feeling energized after watching a sad movie, weird? Gitanjali Rao is one amazing woman. Vidya Iyer and her family's spirit gave me energy. It resonated with me. Sad. Whatever.

My Visit to KharaKapas

What began with a search for clothes on Instagram led me back to one of my more prominent childhood experiences. Only this time, I was far more intrigued and excited about the whole process.

This post is not about my visit to a branded shop. I don't recall visiting branded shops as a child anyway (talk about being born a 90's middle-classer.) I did visit some tailors though. And that's what this is about- My visit to a tailor-shop. JK. There's more to this, trust me.

So one fine evening, after having toiled myself enough to believe that I deserve new clothes, I went window shopping on Instagram. Landed on KharaKapas's page. Seemed like a regular designer shop. I began shortlisting clothes; until I noticed their location. Wait. What!

Before we dive into detail, let's first celebrate Etsy coming to India. I am so glad. Of course, it will take time before quality products show up in their feed. I am still glad (talking about shipment charges here.) And here Etsy features Kharakapas. My two loves- old and new.

About KharaKapas. They are one km from where I live. I live in Gurgaon. Not Gurugram. You know the difference. Don't make me spell it out here. This isn't about that anyway.

One km from my home is like the Cosco factory that I visited last year for work purpose (was barely interested in them atm.) And quite frankly, I can't compare the two. I simply can't.

Remember- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! Well, my visit was more or less the same. Sparing you the parts I feel are irrelevant, let me introduce you to the insides of KharaKapas (this is not paid promotion, I get obsessed sometimes.)

Umm, or maybe let me first talk about the actual visit to a factory I mentioned at the beginning. It was a visit to the Hero Honda factory. I recall a presentation, art on the wall, machinery, quizzes... And all this while I was thinking; but what do I do? Excuse me for not being a bike-loving young girl. Call me a late bloomer if you may. Well, I am still not obsessed about bikes the way I was when I tried on new clothes at KharaKapas. And there was something else to it. How do I put it into words?

Bicycles. My visit began with a string of old-style bikes parked in a row outside of what had been the sign-board of my heart for the longest while now- KharaKapas. I wish I had taken pictures. I didn't want to come across as intrusive. After all, I was visiting only because I needed to exchange the dress I had finally bought from them.

(This is a fun narrative. And serves a purpose. Factories do have an excess of everything- in one place.)

Staircase. Gave us (me and maa) the impression that the shop is upstairs. The right impression. Except for the next item on this list.

Sewing-machines. Cue-movie: Guru. Just imagine. The moment we walked inside that door, a whole bunch of tailors sat there. With their machines. We walked past them, toward dyeing waters, chai nooks, dark alleys, more stairs, and finally, we entered the shop. Have put pictures from their Instagram below:

Mirrors. Well, this is obvious. Inside the store. And there was a Downtown Abbey feel to the whole process of picking up and trying out new clothes. I am sure, had we gone at a sane time (10 - 6 are their official working hours) we would be accompanied by a tailor ready to customize the dress for me. And I would have worn it on my birthday this month. Anyway. I will settle for a blog post. Guess this is what they call settling in life.

Tomato plants. Yep, my mother noticed those. On our way out. Pretty plants.

You must visit their store.

Here's why I loved Angry Indian Goddesses

Very rarely do I come across an Indian movie that reflects real life clearly. This movie is like that. For the first time in Indian cinema, I noticed raw emotions of women in real friendship.

There was one dialogue in the beginning to which even my male friend laughed. ( I emphasize on his laughter because he was not convinced initially, not at all. So the laughter gave me hope). It was something like this-

"you are not the kind to hate someone."

"Yeah but I am the kind to bitch about someone."

Dusky faces, usual clothes, serious issues and light hearted moments, the movie has all the elements from the lives of modern Indian women.

The mysteries were predictable, but that's not the point. It isn't a mystery movie anyway. It's the first Indian movie with full focus on female friendship. Let's cherish that!

Indian cinema has always ignored this aspect of us women. And if I speak for myself and my friends, our friendship is the most important thing to us. We know each other inside out, well at least more than our parents do. And it isn't just about knowing, we understand each other. Oh, and even at times when we don't understand what our friends do or say, we support them. No parent can be that unbiased.

And let's just forget men. Just this once. After all, it can't be about them all the fucking time.

Inkaar

Lead Roles

Chitrangada; as Maya. I am a fan of hers from now on.

Arjun Rampal; as Rahul. I watched the movie because I like him.

Plot

Guy notices girl. He offers her to work under him in an advertising agency. She happily accepts the job. Then a relationship starts, mentor-protégé relationship. She falls in love with him. But neither of them proposes to the other. Rahul turns out to be a disappointment for the audience, because he never actually confronts his feelings for Maya.

Rumors through the office grapevine disturb Maya. That unacknowledged relationship, between Maya and Rahul, begins to get sore. A mentor must know when to step aside n let his protégé make her own choices. Rahul, instead, got angry at Maya for taking decisions that he didn't approve of.

Tired of her estranged lover turned pain in the ass, Maya accuses Rahul of Sexual harassment. In the end, stupid Rahul finally, finally confesses his love to Maya. But he is too stubborn to get back to his workplace after everything has been sorted out between him and his muse. Thus, the disappointing climax undermines everything that has gone before.

Music

Singer        :  Papon
Composer  :  Shantanu Moitra
Lyricist       :  Swanand Kirkire

My favorite lyrics from the movie's song- "Khamoshiya":

Khamoshiyaan awaaz hai, lafzon mein bas inkaar hai
Lafzon ne chuna, lafzon ne buna, jo bhi humne kaha, jo bhi humne suna
na humein ilm hai, na tumhe hai pata, jaane ho kab kahan, lafzon se khata  
lafzon mein rawaan kuch kahi ansuna, lafzon mein bayaan kuch kahi ankaha
dil pe jaane ghaav koi laga, lafz hi de gaye lafzon ko daga
khamoshiyaan awaaz hai, lafzon mein bas inkaar hai  


Would I care to watch it again?

No. I was so angry at Rahul, throughout the movie, for continually denying his love. (That's how the movie got its name - Inkaar.)

Though it has a few plus points:

• The movie gives a quick peek into the field of advertising. That is quite enthralling for an outsider.
• Chitrangada and Arjun look great together.