A humming word

The abstract noun "genius" is commonly misused. "You're a genius" is a common derisive remark. Leonardo Da Vinci was a genius. Ramanujan was a mathematical genius. The lists of Genuises cannot be complete without the mention of painters like Van Gogh. Edward Hopper. And poets like Li Young Lee. Roger Robinson. And then, there are sparks of genius. A genius is the purest form and the most intense application of the mind and heart. For me, sparks of genius, were in movies like The Devil Wears Prada, where Meryl Streep says "that's all" with a soft yet stern tone that shakes institutions. Or Kangana Ranaut in Fashion. Her poise and her attitude was a spark of genius. And, then, there are books like Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time. The plot is simple: to solve the murder of a neighbour's Dog, Christopher resolves to find the crime-doer. Christopher has Asperger's Syndrome. It is mentioned nowhere but only in the blurb of the book....

"I am dying since ten years" - Debbie says when Joseph Mascarenhas (Joe) justifies his disappearance over several evenings and tearfully tells her how their friend Rob is diagnosed with Stage 4 Brain Tumor. He comfortably tries to escape the whole confrontation with Debbie until she coerces him to play for a sailing band and earn enough for her and their son. Live your dream is a powerful yet a dangerous notion. How far can one go for their dream? In the mortar and pestle of life, it is often the dreamer's family that gets pounded. Joe, claiming to be emotional and broken, spends ten years of his life, teaching guitar and performing in nondescript clubs. While Debbie's life takes a U-turn and she ends up being the stronger of the two and managers their family fish business. The stench of the fish doesn't leave her. While his friends have moved ahead, Joe, decides to stay stagnant. Debbie despite being the pushy householder lets him be, thinking he will make her p...

MR Book Center or as the owner Uncle calls it “Mister Book Center” sits comfortably, tucked under the Begumpet Flyover. The innocent Green and Yellow banner with Bold Letters hide the mammoth collection of the store. Enter it and you’d be welcomed by Calendars, translation of popular books in Telugu and racks and racks of books. It is a wonderland for book lovers.  A thirty-five-year family-run business, MR is the initial of their father’s and brother’s names. The staff is friendly and the owner uncle, another MR, is warm and easy to speak with. He showed us a copy of Quran that had a small note by the Nizam. He also told us anecdotes of book lovers who never married for the fear of not having to keep their books. The eminent Corona and the waning book visitors managed to creep in our conversations. And he immediately mentioned that he partnered with Amazon and Flipkart with a glint in his eyes.   A rare Quran      MR Uncle One would remember that they sol...

There are few movies that will tear you up and there are fewer movies that take a dose from reality and do that and that’s the movie: Tumhari Sulu , played perfectly by Vidya Balan. The movie will remind you of someone: our own personal Sulu. We all know a Sulu amongst us. A mother. A sister. A wife. Or could be any woman you know who moulds her life as per her family responsibilities.   Yes. Yes. Men are great and are equally wonderful.   But just focussing on Sulu here. The quintessential mother or any responsible person who wakes up at 5:30 am and carries on her chores, unquestionably. Be it rain or hail. Her clockwork avatar is difficult to emulate. Try waking up at 5:30 am for a couple of days knowing the pile of responsibility apart from work and you’d be shaken. But for Sulu it is the norm. But with a difference. She has the zeal and the zest to do something. She makes daal with equal fervour as she makes love. She plays lemon and spoon with the same focus a...

The series has been heavily criticized for portraying feminism as a parade of alcohol, fornication, and independence beyond check. But the series is about four women with different problems and they meet once a week at “The Truck Bar” run by Jeh Mehta, who is their confidante too. The series unravels to focus on many modern problems such as sexuality, polyamory, indecisiveness about marriage, open marriage, truth in relationships, divorce, custody, remarriage, misogyny. One cannot brand it under umbrella when it is dealing with several problems. However, what stood out through the series for me was the unyielding strength every character showed. Especially, Umang Singh. Umang Singh, a physical trainer who is into multiple hookups until she finds herself and the true love that she craves for. She is openly bisexual; however, she hides it from her family back in Chandigarh.   Umang’s journey is the journey of many women and men in India who have to hide their orientation fro...

/wrote it for a friend's birthday/ He stood by the courtyard of his storied house surrounded by the canopy of trees He looked around awaiting and watched the hawkers carry their baskets of greens Their tanned torso was their kameez and kutcha roads were now a sole of their shoes from the pit of their empty stomachs, they yodeled, sang, screamed to sell their produce. He dipped his finger to check its warmth of the milk bowl that he had placed on the ground His eyes moved from one corner to the other – from the bakery wallahs to the huge bins, round Yikes, he hated when the milk turned cold and the broken stems and leaves garnished it Still there was no sight of his mate; his legs grew tired and sweaty with no place to sit, Finally, like a beacon of hope, his friend came running towards him His green eyes shone brighter in the sun though its brown-and-white coat Was greasy and shoddy; an endearing charm, like a jersey, he did sport His frown vanished ...

There are few stories that move you to tears and Kabuliwalla by Tagore is one such story. Though the story has only three characters: Mini, the father (the narrator), and Kabuliwalla, it will inch into your heart and move you, deeply. Is it the picture painted by Tagore? The same way that Mini's father is transported to Afghanistan listening to the mere word. So, are we transported. The autumn, the gate, the nuts, and the innocent friendship between Mini and Kabuliwalla. The story is simple: A hawker who visits several houses, meets a young scared girl and slowly forms a perfectly saccharine bond with her. As she talks to the Kabuliwalla and he becomes an enthusiastic listener, you become a mute observer on the porch of Mini's house and wait for the mighty Afghan too. But things slowly take a turn and soon, the Kabuliwala is forgotten till he returns years later. If you haven't read it, I'd nudge you to. After all, a perfect story is one that you live and relive an...