ಅರಿಕೆ

ಮೋಡದಂಚಲೆಲ್ಲೋ ಇದ್ದ ನನ್ನ ಸೆಳೆದು ತಂದು ನೀವು
ಮಿಣುಕುಹುಳವು ನಿಶೆಯ ಸೊಬಗ ಬೆಳಕಹಾಸಿ ನೋಡುವಂತೆ,
ಹಸುರಿನೊಳಗೆ ತನ್ನ ಸುತ್ತ ಪಸರಿಸಿರುವ ಇನಿತು ಬೆಳಕ-
ಬೀರಿ ಬೀರಿ ಮೇಲೆ ಹಾರಿ, ಕೊಂಚ ದೂರ ಮತ್ತೆ ಹೋಗಿ,
ಅಲ್ಲು ಬೆಳಕ ಮಿಣುಕಿ ಮಿಣುಕಿ ಬೆದಕಿ ಸರ್ಗಕಾಣುವಂತೆ
ಇತ್ತಿರೆನ್ನ ತಾಯಿಗೆ; ತಾಯ ಮಡಿಲ ಹುಡುಕುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಜೀವಕೆ.

ಮಡಿಲ ಬೆದಕಿ ಕೊಂಚಕೊಂಚ ತೊದಲನಾಡಿ ಹಿಗ್ಗಿಹಾರಿ,
ತಾಯ ಮಡಿಲು ಸಾಲದೆನಗೆ ಮೇಲು ಹಾರಿ -
ಕೆಳಗು ನೋಡಿ ದೂರಸಾಗುವಾಸೆಯು;
ಬೆಳಕಿನಡಿಯು ಬೆರಗನೆಲ್ಲ ಇಲ್ಲೆ ಬಿತ್ತಿ ಬೆಳೆಸಿದಂತೆ 
ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಮನೆಗೆ ಬೆಳಕ ನೀಡಿ, ನೀನೇ ಉಸಿರೂ ಆಗಿರೆಂದು
ಉಜ್ಜುಗಿಸುವ ಕಾಂತಿಯಾಗು- ಮನಕೆ ಎಂದೂ ತಣ್ಪ ನೀಡು,
ಕಣ್ಣ ತುಂಬಿ ಹರಸಿ ಕಳಿಸೆ-ಮನವು ಆರ್ದ್ರವಾಗಲು..

ಮೆಲ್ಲ ಬಂದೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ನಾನು ಹೊಸತದೊಂದು ನಗೆಯ ತುಂಬಿ,
ಹಿರಿಮೆ ಹಿಗ್ಗಿ ಜಗಕದೆಲ್ಲ ನನ್ನ ಮಗುವ ಲಾಲಿಸುತ್ತ,
ನಿದಿರೆ ತೊರೆದು ಪುಟ್ಟ ಮಗುವ ರಂಜಿಸಿದಾ ರಾತ್ರಿಗಳಿಗೆ-
ಲೆಖ್ಖವಿಲ್ಲ ಚುಕ್ಕವಿಲ್ಲ -
ಯಾರೇ ಕೇಳೆ ಬರಿದೆ ನಗುವು ನಿಮ್ಮ ನಲ್ಮೆಯುತ್ತರ!

ಅವನ ಪುಟ್ಟ ಕೈಯ್ಯ ಮುಟ್ಟಿ ಬೆಚ್ಚನಿರುವ ಕೆನ್ನೆ ಸವರಿ
ಹೆಜ್ಜೆಗೊಂದು ಮಾತಿಗೊಂದು ಗೊಂಬೆಯದಕೆ ಬರಿಯ ಮುದ್ದು;
ತೊದಲು ನುಡಿಗಳಲ್ಲು ನೀವೆ, ಅವನ ಕೇಕೆಯಲ್ಲು ನೀವೆ,
ಸಂತಸದಾ ಕ್ಷಣಗಳವನ ಸುತ್ತಲಿರುವ ಸದಾ ಹಾಗೆ,
ಕಣ್ಮಯಿಯಾ ಸೆಲೆಯೇ ಅವನು ಆಗುವುದನು ಕಂಡೆನು!

ನಿಮ್ಮಲೇನೆ ನನ್ನ ಸಲಿಗೆ,
ಭಾವುಕತೆಯ ಎಲ್ಲೆ ಕೊನೆಗೆ,
ಜೀವವಿದುವೆ ಧನ್ಯ ನಿಮಗೆ;
ರೂಪಿಸಿರಲು ನಮ್ಮ ಬದುಕ-
ಪ್ರೀತಿಯಿಂದ ವಂದನೆ.

Mission Mangal: Movie Review

☆☆☆☆1/2

This birthday was a day which reminded me how difficult everyday is, for a working mother. Mix of emotions and very tight schedule at the same time. It's all the while difficult when you want to feel special for you know it is your birthday but your responsibilities won't allow you take a day off from the work you do. Neither in kitchen, nor at relationships as well. I laughed, I cried, I worked hard, I partied hard, was under very tight schedule, and did relax well too. As a part of too many days in one day, me and my husband had the movie scheduled in midst of last minute travel in two wheeler as usual with just a bit of rain to up the traffic. Reaching the venue heroically, finally we made it on time for the national anthem's tune. All we had was one thing in mind; This movie better be worth the traffic risk we took! 😊

Tara Shinde, the project manager of Mission Mars reminds her team of their purpose of being scientists by sort of time travel to their very first memory that led to the determination of becoming a scientist one day. 

Rakesh Sharma, the Chief Scientist seems an oddball when convincing the panel for supporting his mission every time his superiors find excuses to drop it. He barges in the meeting of chandrayan twice to prove his point once and to pitch for funds, in rather ridiculous seeming poori frying and pretending to talk to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

Overtly dramatic as these two sequences might seem to the viewer, were still required to lighten up the heavy subject of research and satellite launch. The amount of pain that the Mars team would have taken to convince everyone else of their home science based rocket science, especially at a time when the mission had no funds of its own and bizarre idea of trusting a Hohmann Transfer Orbit* that was propounded a century ago, indeed has a vast scope of imagination to screenplay of Ravi Varman and direction of Jagan Shakti for creating an effective movie to celebrate the achievement.

Most government projects tend to extend their set time which they give numerous reasons for delay. A mission that was made possible in the record time of 15 months will always be a wonder in a government run institution. India is the first country to be successful in inserting a satellite into Mars in its first attempt, that we all are super proud about. This movie is an attempt at giving this achievement a human touch by weaving it with a palatable story.

Weaving a handful of hilarious turn of events, it feels good to have a right mixture of fun and work in the story. The movie definitely inspires us towards the career that we have chosen in life. A super booster movie for women indeed who are the face of their family and a pride at whatever they are best at.

How the women on mission handle situations and casualties at home as well as at work is what I could relate to, being a working woman myself. Balancing work and family is a humongous task which can only be taken and balanced one issue after the other as they come along in everyday life.

A handful of dialogues, the part of movie where launch and settling of satellite at Mars Orbit is shown will stay with the viewer even after movie. 

Try holding back the burst of happiness within, as a viewer when we become part of witnessing the mission and start praying for no more hurdles in Mission MOM!

Have fun watching, that if you still haven’t watched. Every time you think the movie is going off track, it's propelled on the relevant track again! Movie in bits and pieces is like experiencing how the “Poori Science” worked in Mangalyan by switching off fuel every time the heat was sufficient!!

*Hohmann transfer orbit - Path in space that works with earth's gravity to hold satellite still orbiting around earth, but will keep widening the trajectory every round. Only ISRO used this theory n technique while launching satellite in just a PSLV rocket with very less fuel capacity.

Vanara: Anand Neelakantan

Let me tell you a bit about the backdrop of this story that it is woven upon.

Valmiki Ramayana tells the tale of how Sugreeva and his Vanara sena helped Rama fight Ravana and rescue Sita. This Sugreeva was an outcast of his brother Vaali or Baali's Kishkinda. He was evicted from the Kingdom of Kishkinda by his own brother who was very dear to him. This is since Sugreeva had married Tara and was ruling Kishkinda since he believed his brother was dead in battle with Mayavi. But the moment Baali comes back winning over the demon, he charges his brother with treachery and evicts him from Kishkinda. Sugreeva waits in vain being an outcast until he meets Rama. Then Sugreeva invites Baali for a duel and Rama killed Baali by standing behind a nearby tree. Sugreeva is crowned again and after him, Angada, son of Tara and Baali is made the Prince of Kishkinda.

Now this act of Rama is justified in various texts in different ways, backing him up that this was done to save Dharma ultimately. This event always leaves a hollow in the epic of Ramayana nevertheless. This novel Vaanara is an attempt at weaving the sequence of events.

Anand Neelakantan has a finesse story telling that captivates the reader. I must mention how he weaves in chapter after chapter. Every chapter ends as a prelude to the next chapter which keeps the reader on toes until the story is completed. One simply cannot put this book down and be at peace until the reading is done. 

Dilemma of Tara about the two brothers, though she heartily loves one and tries to despise the other, her thoughts are stuck not knowing which way to waiver. Baali is so lost in building an empire that though he loves Tara with all his heart, he is unable to spend enough time with her. Meanwhile encashing all this, Sugreeva lusts for his sister-in-law, unknowing of the consequences that it might pose; once Tara is married to Sugreeva as Baali does not return from fighting Mayavi and is thought to be dead, Sugreeva sees that the appeal of having Tara as his is vanished completely, and a constant hindrance towards the relationship sets in. 

Though Tara marries two brothers, she is still considered the virtuous wife and is given a worshipful place till today. Giving the benefit of doubt to the tale that she is considered a pious and virtuous wife, author gives it a justified ending that Tara after Angada and Sugreeva return victorious post battle with Ravana, stays in the sacred grove of seven palmyra trees that Baali had envisioned and nurtured; thinking every moment of Baali, she lives as a telltale to the whole of Kishkinda until her last breath, serving the city-dwellers with her wise deeds and words.

The loyalty of the abandoned wolf pup 'Chemba' raised by Baali is a part of the story that touches the most. The wolf's tried and true love towards its master is depicted well in parts of story where it stays near the cave till its master returns victorious from his struggle with the demon and its unfailing attempts at digging his grave though its claws are all worn out from the futile effort. Chemba still believes that somehow he can bring his master back from the dead if it digs enough to reach his body even after death of Baali.

The sublime character of Baali and Sugreeva's foster father Riksharajas, the valour of Ravana depicted in even his defeat against Baali in duel, the motherly turned pompous Ruma - the wife of Sugreeva, the demonity that is illustrated in weaving sequence about the humongous bull Dundubhi that is brought by Sugreeva, the plight of the outcast - Vana naras - called later as Vanaras, the love and understanding of the two brothers - Baali and Sugreeva and the intervention to their fraternal bonding with entry of Tara in their life, the only amazing city that they build deep in the woods with all amenities and aiming at no caste- colour discrimination is all that is part of reading hangover. 

Definitely a thumbs up for even those who despise heavy reading.

Kesari ✮✮✮✮1/2

Each war has many stories to tell. Of the martyrs, of the survivors, of the wounded, and of the hounded. If wars were only documented, the lines become meager numbers on paper. When a movie like Kesari is made on a lesser known but bravest of battles fought under British India, heart swells with pride for their bravado.

North Western Frontier Province, part of Pakistan in today's world map had witnessed a constant friction and confrontation between Afghans and British. Many of us may know that 21 Sikhs belonging to 36 Sikh regiment killed over 600 Afghans in the battle of Saragarhi. The level of motivation it took not to run away from overwhelming 10000 Afghans and the power of commitment they got in them at that crisis is a question of creative liberty for screenplay and direction. Director Anurag Singh has tapped the right chords to create a slow and touchy movie that says about the turn of events and glorifies the brave battle, ever so rightly.

The movie keeps you in splits at times, touches the raw nerve of British ruled India, flares the viewer's patriotism and polishes our religious beliefs, all at right times during the movie. Songs compliment the pace of the movie. It is a slow paced movie, but deliberately been made so. First 30 minutes is just an under-structure for the story that is to be unveiled. 

Akshay Kumar as Hawaldar Ishar Singh is not the only glorified hero but one among the heroes who fought and were martyred that day. Screenplay has given a rightful space and justice for each hero among the 21+1. The brutality of force and strategies of the then group of Afghans makes us mull over the story and events that we have read about Afghanistan, Lashqar and Taliban in recent times.

None of us moved even when the movie had completed its show. We were shun to silence. It took a moment more to realize that we had to leave the movie hall.

Manikarnika - The Queen of Jhansi ✮✮✮

Jhansi Rani Lakshmibai, one of the key leaders of the Sepoy mutiny against British raj, strategically escaped twice from the British army, gave an arduous fight and was a nightmare to the Angrezi Sarkar until she chose her death by being a rebellion in a battle near Gwalior. 

As British officer Hugh Rose commented in his battle report, Jhansi Rani was the most dangerous of all Indian leaders. Our heart swells with pride when the story unveils on screen, and the battle tactics used at that time is commendable. Story is kept intact as much possible and the glorification of Rani as a personality seems apt in many frames.

This movie itself seems like a mark of respect for a leader's story which sprung through the hoodlum effort by British to erase her name in the History of India. The moment when Lakshmibai jumps off the fort of Jhansi while trying to save her heir  is enough to prove how outgoing and rebellious she could have been who survived battles and did not give in an opportunity for British for being captured alive. This sacrifice is what she believed will become a precedence and instilled an undying urge in Indians about Swaraj.

Now about the movie, Indian audience have watched Baahubali which has given us an excellent VFX that is lasting even after years of its release; we have watched Baajirao Mastani which featured Baajirao, a courtier of Jhansi empire; we have watched an excellent epos with a right mix of everything- VFX, story line, Direction, editing, scale, songs and performance in Padmaavat recently.

Manikarnika has everything, but lacks the same intensity of direction almost for the first 40 minutes. It is noticeable, had this movie been in the hands of a more experienced director, this could have been improvised here and there. I cannot conclude that the movie hasn't much to offer the audience as well, even in those first 40 minutes. But the direction seems a cracked spell at times during the movie which seems crackled further through poor VFX during few instances. Songs are amazing, which is as a matter of fact drew me to the theater. Shankar Ehsaan Loy are back with a bang, that has complimented Prasoon Joshi's lyrics so rightly. But what is lacking, is timing in the movie. Songs seem a bit too many in the movie which would have sounded even better if their gelling with the flow of the movie was better. Songs should always be rightly placed, and must compliment the movie rather than being an impediment to its flow, is what I believe.

Having said that, there is no doubt that the battle scenes, scenes with weaving battle strategics are commendable. Kangana Ranaut has proved yet again that she can mold into any character that comes to her in making. Supporting crew has done their job great. A one time watch, and lore to sing in bits for a long time, for sure.

✮✮✮

ತಿಳಿವು

ತಿಳಿವೆನ್ನುವುದು ಹಣತೆಯಂತೆ
ಬೆಳಗಿಸಿದರೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಕತ್ತಲೆ ತೊಡೆವಂತೆ;
ಮುನ್ನ ಬೆಳ್ಳಿಯೊಳು ಬತ್ತಿಯಿದ್ದರೂ
ಬತ್ತಿಗಾಗಿ ಕಾಯ್ವ ಕಿಡಿಯಿದ್ದರೂ
ಬೆಳ್ಳಿ ದೀಪದೊಳು ಎಣ್ಣೆ ಮೊಗೆದಿದ್ದರೂ
ಹೊತ್ತಿಸದೆ ಬೆಳಕನೆಂತ ಬೀರ್ವುದೋ

ತಿಳಿವೆನ್ನುವುದು ಹಣತೆಯಂತೆ
ಬೆಳಗಿಸಿದರೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಕತ್ತಲೆ ತೊಡೆವಂತೆ;
ಮುನ್ನ ತಲೆಯೊಳು ಮೆದುಳಿದ್ದರೂ
ಆಲೋಚನೆಗೆ ಕಾಯ್ವ ಕಿಡಿಯಿದ್ದರೂ
ಕಂಗಳು ಕಂಡಿದ್ದರೂ ಸ್ಮೃತಿಗೆದರಿದ್ದರೂ
ಆಲೋಚನೆಯ ಓರೆ ಹಚ್ಚದೇ ತಿಳಿವರಿವಾಗದೋ ಪ್ರಭುವೇ!