Anupama (1966)

When Mohan Sharma (Tarun Bose) and Aruna (Surekha Pandit) tie the knot, they instantly knew they had found their soulmates. It was a love so strong that blossomed into a deep and mutual respect, filling their lives with happiness. It couldn't get any better than when Mohan receives the news that they were to have a baby. Life seemed to be coming full circle. But given here and as the saying goes 'it seems too good to be true' - Aruna dies in childbirth, leaving behind a beautiful daughter, Uma and an embittered Mohan. And life was never the same. He is unable to bring himself to love, let alone look at his child, holding her responsible for taking away what he cherished most in life, his wife.

Uma (Sharmila Tagore) is brought up by her nanny and grows up to be a beauty. But with everything she has materialistically, she lacks emotionally. Time passed has not helped heal the wound and Uma has not been able to win over her father. She is introverted and shy and is constantly walking on eggshells around him. Things begin to look up for Uma after a chance encounter with Ashok (Dharmendra), a writer and poet. She finds her voice and an ear in someone who actually loves her for who she is.

But will she be able to find the courage to follow her heart? 

A few things I like about this movie is firstly, that it's black and white. The storyline isn't too elaborate but is still riveting and meaningful, delivering performances that are top notch. The music and songs are mesmerizing and once again its hats off to the director - Hrishikesh Mukherjee!

After all these years of its release, this film can still hold its own.

Parama (1984)

Parama is beautiful; draped in a white and red saree, this light-eyed beauty with gorgeous tresses dripping down to her waist, her feet laced with the Amber tones of alta is a sight to behold .. But she's thrown in a tizzy as Rahul hits the nail on the head aptly describing her as a little doll all dressed up, living in a beautifully decorated house, totally oblivious of the world on the outside. But hang on a second and lets back up ...

Parama (Rakee Gulzar) means the world to all those residing at the beautiful house on a tree-lined street in Calcutta. Married at an early age, the demure Parama is a devoted wife, mother, aunt, daughter-in-law and sister-in-law. But in playing these numerous roles Parama has lost a bit of herself and she isn't sure if she can exist out of this little circle, one that is now her emotional security blanket. Things change dramatically after her encounter with Rahul (Mukul Sharma) an expat photographer. He expresses a wish to photograph this pretty Bengali woman for a feature he is working on about 'The Indian Housewife'. In his presence Parama recites poetry she once enjoyed, talks of the plants she adored in her childhood, remembers the strains of the sitar she once loved to play - all of it now forgotten and pushed to the far recesses of her mind. However, while the naïve Parama treads dangerous waters into unchartered territory, enjoying stolen moments (albeit liberating ones), she doesn't realize the heavy price she'd have to pay.

Watch the deep and moving tale of a woman who is on the path of self-discovery. This is a story of courage and hope with Rakhee stealing the show. I've fallen so in love with this film that I couldn't help myself from watching it a few times already. 

Gharonda ~ "The Nest" (1977)

This story unfolds in Bombay, the land that draws people to it like a magnet. And our protagonists are this couple, Sudip (Amol Palekar ) and Chhaya (Zareena Wahab). Both come from middle-class families and make their acquaintance at the private firm where they work. After a brief courtship, Sudip and Chhaya hope to get married. However with Sudip living in a lodge with friends and Chhaya in a little tenement with two brothers and one of whom is married, the possibility seems distant. Her younger brother hopes to pursue his education in America someday, a wish that Chhaya aims to fulfil. Despite their responsibilities, their plans to settle down soon makes getting a home of their own a priority. Their dream seems a reality when Sudip hears of a friend who has booked an affordable flat which is still work-in-progress. In all hopes and throwing caution to the wind, the couple go to great lengths and gather the asking amount for a down payment. With stars in their eyes, they eagerly await the completion of their home. Unfortunately, Sudip gets the news that the owner has made off with the money, in the process crushing the hopes of many. With mounting frustration and during an argument Sudeep recommends Chhaya marries the aged but rich Mr. Modi, the owner of the firm they work in. Mr. Modi, a widower, has a sweet spot for Chhaya and she decides to take Sudip's advice and move on with her life. Can Bombay stand by it's reputation of being a place that fulfills dreams? Or could it be the opposite here!
A beautiful story of life as a middle-class citizen and it's struggles. The film is so rustic and real; and the songs ... great 👌! 

Baton Baton Mein (1979)

How could I have taken so long to write about a movie of one of my favorite stars, Amol Palekar ❤ - Amol of  the Golmaal, Naram Garam, Choti Si Baat, Rajnigandha, Chitchor, Rang Birangi fame! Gosh ... His films are light and funny, being simply complicated 😉  and is the result of fine film making and story telling accompanied by fun music and song. Whew!!! I think I got it all ... 😟

Baton Baton Mein revolves around two unmarried Goans whose parents are on the lookout for the perfect match. Now what Indian mother wouldn't want her daughter to be married to someone with a permanent job and earning a "good salary"! (If you like "Pride and Prejudice", like I do, you would be able to relate to this). Mrs. Rosie Pereira (Pearl Padamsee) is one such mother! Nancy (Tina Munim), her spinster daughter, takes the 9:10 am train daily to Churchgate where she works in a private firm. Nancy is pretty but wears an air of aloofness - she suffers from some trust issues after her heart was broken in a previous relationship and that is the reason she is not actively looking for Mr. Right, just yet!
Travelling on the same train is Tony Braganza (Amol Palekar), a cartoonist in his spare time who loves drawing caricatures of his fellow passengers. Tom, Nancy's uncle who almost always accompanies her on the train ride, introduces Nancy to Tony and soon they're good friends. Now there is a sparkle in Rosie's eyes as she sees Tony as the eligible bachelor who has met all the criteria for marriage. But he is in no hurry to pop the question. Why is it taking Tony so long ..
I love this movie for how retro it feels and how the memories come rushing back - memories of a time when things seemed less complicated, the marginally less crowded streets and beach fronts of Mumbai, the time of the cha cha and jazz, simple home parties.... Do you get where I'm going with this?
I adore this number.

The film is hilarious and absolutely fun!

The Lunchbox (2013)

Somewhere in Mumbai, Ila (Nimrat Kaur) - a young housewife and a mother is in her kitchen preparing and packing lunch for her husband. Sensing a marital disconnect Ila hopes the old adage - "the way to man's heart is through his stomach", can reignite the missing spark in their relationship. She has high hopes pinned on the meal that she has labored after, with precious cooking advise from her neighbor. The dabbawala is soon on his way with the tiffin. In a freak mix-up though, the lunchbox finds its way to Saajan Fernandes desk.
Mr. Saajan Fernandes (Irrfan Khan), a recluse and a widower, is soon to retire from his job at the insurance company where he has worked for almost 40 years. Through some quirk of fate, Saajan's dabbawala delivers a steaming, delicious tiffin for lunch. On his way home a delighted Saajan remembers to stop by the little food-joint that cooks his meals and compliments a surprised and a clueless cook on the scrumptious meal.

When Ila's husband returns after work, Ila realizes the lunchbox never made it to its intended destination. So the next day she slips in a note and thereon starts an uncanny friendship between an aging and lonely Fernandes and a young and equally lonely Ila. As the lunchbox travels from hearth to heart, over kukure bhindi, creamy koftas and other culinary surprises, this friendship soon blossoms into something more ... ! This is a story of two lonely hearts - distance and age of no consequence.

A great film with brilliant performances by the seasoned actor Irrfan Khan and the talented Nimrat Kaur!

             The secret to Mumbai's dabbawalas

Pink (2016)

The story is about three friends who are like your every other Indian girl. There is the Feisty Minal Arora ( Taapsee Pannu), a Sensible Falak Ali (Kirti Kulhari) and a rather Timid Andrea (Andrea Tariang). These young working professionals share a flat in a middle-class society in South Delhi.
One eventful evening, the trio attend a rock concert and are later invited to dinner by a group of three friends - Rajveer (Angad Bedi) and his two pals. Against their better judgment the women accompany the men to a resort close to the concert venue and soon the drinks begin to flow. However, the carousing does not end well when Rajveer tries to molest Minal and he is left bleeding copiously and in danger of losing an eye. The girls manage to escape by the skin of their teeth but barely ..... Rajveer is from a family with strong political connections and soon the girls start receiving threatening phone calls, they are stalked and almost evicted from their rental. To make a point Minal is abducted and molested by Rajveer's friends and the girls decide to fight back. Their neighbor, famous retired lawyer - Deepak Sehgal (Amitabh Bachchan) who has been diagnosed bipolar, approaches the girls and offers to help fight their case. And like they say - The rest is history!
Amitabh Bachachan, the veteran star has delivered an intense performance, leaving his audience mesmerized with his larger-than life screen presence,  his resonating voice and managing to bring home a poignant social message. I absolutely loved his "handbook for women". There was not a soul at the theater who did not clap or cheer during and after the film.
Kudos to director Aniruddha Roy Chowdury for successfully delivering a movie that just needed to be made.

I always stay back to read the credits knowing that the movie is not what it is were it not for all the names that appear in the finest print. Imagine my surprise when my patience was rewarded at the pièce de résistance, served at the very end.
Extremely powerful and moving!

Word for the day :-
querulous - complaining in a rather petulant or whining manner

Madhumati (1958) - a movie shrouded in mystery and intrigue

Devendra (Dilip Kumar) is on his way to the railway station to pick up his wife and child. But enroute there is a heavy thunderstorm and the road he is on is blocked in a landslide, compelling him to seek shelter in a neighboring mansion. Here Devendra instantly feels a connection and he has a vague sense of having been there before. And he slowly begins to remember a previous life...

Anand is an employee for Raja Ugra Narayan (Pran) and he has been hired to manage a vast estate. Beautiful rolling hills, cloaked in mists and mystery enchants Anand and he is haunted by a melodic voice. Madhumati (Vyjayanthimala),  the beautiful owner - a local tribal girl, and Anand fall in love. However, when Anand and Madhumati's father have to be away for a few days, disaster strikes. On their return, Madhu has vanished without a trace. What is the mystery shrouding her disappearance? Will a love like the one that Anand and Madhu shared die a slow death or will it live to eternity. .

A beautiful Bimal Roy film that can hold its own to this day. Music by Salil Choudhury is absolutely mesmerizing. it's a story of undying and eternal love.

On of the beautiful haunting numbers

Word for the day :-
Wodge - a large piece or amount of something

Hamari Adhuri Kahaani (2015)

Flowers can do what a million words could probably not accomplish - With their simplistic and aesthetic beauty flowers brighten the darkest corners, bring a smile to the saddest face, enhance the happiest occasion and also bring two hearts together. Vasudha (Vidya Balan) is a single mother and a gifted florist who works for Aarav Ruparel (Emraan Hashmi), a successful hotelier. Aarav is smitten and eventually falls in love with Vasudha who has many an occasion to showcase her flair and prowess with flowers and her dedication to her job. However, there is one hitch that stops Vasudha from grasping what her new life has to offer. Hari (Rajkumar Rao), her husband who had abandoned her just a month after the birth of their child, has not been heard from for five long years. He soon returns a wanted terrorist. Torn between her filial duty and the love of her life, Vasudha must make a tough choice.

Love transcends all barriers and a field of calla lilies helps to eternally unite Vasudha and Aarav .....

The title track from the film

Word for the day :-
miasma - an unpleasant or unhealthy smell or vapor

Parineeta (2005)

The movie is an adaptation of a 1914 Bengali novel by Sarat Candra Chattopadhyay.

Calcutta, 1962. There are three families living next to each other. Lolita (Vidya Balan), who was adopted by her maternal uncle and Shekhar (Saif Ali Khan), Navinchandra's son, have grown up together - the best of friends. As time passes and having fallen in love with each other they get married on the quiet. Meanwhile Lolita's uncle is under duress to pay off a long-standing loan for which he was forced to mortgage his house with his wealthy neighbor, Navinchandra, a ruthless businessman. Navinchandra has impressive plans for the property, hoping to convert it into a hotel. When Lolita gets wind of Navichandra's plans she seeks help from their neighbor whose brother  Girish (Sanjay Dutt) is visiting from the UK. Seeing Girish and Lolita together and unsure of her intentions, Shekhar's jealousy drives them apart. 

The quintessential Bengali woman in her white and red-bordered saree, kohl-lined eyes, vermilion adorned forehead cast in lamplight is just beautiful beyond words; tea at Flurys, dinner at Moulin Rouge and golgappas in front of the majestic Victoria Garden. For someone like me, who has never been to Calcutta, it's a treat to watch.

Visually appealing, great music with an enthralling storyline. I love, love, love this movie.

All the songs are beautiful in this movie, but this is a favorite.


Word for the day :-
truculent - eager or quick to argue or fight

Jab We Met (2007)

What would you do if the train you're trying to catch seems to be out of reach, picking up speed but leaving you behind with an unknown and paralyzing fear. It is the fear of losing the one chance you have in life of making the right choice!

'Jab we Met' is a warm love story of a Punjabi girl, Geet (Kareena Kapoor) who runs away from home to be with the man she loves. On the train to Shimla, she meets a handsome but depressed businessman, Aditya (Shahid Kapoor) who has been dumped by his girlfriend and who has walked out on his family business. What ensues is a beautiful movie of finding love amide the lush fields of Punjab and the majestic hills and gushing streams of Shimla. The music is warm and mellifluous and will have you tapping your feet to some great Punjabi music.

What better way to enjoy this movie but to dig in to hot parathas laden with ghee and accompanied with a Patiala lassi!
And something to hum along to -


Word for the day:-
asterism - a prominent pattern or a group of stars that is smaller than a constellation

Bawarchi (1972)

When the golden threads binding each relationship gets tarnished  with the dust of ego, arrogance and unforgiveness, the resulting lack of communication and misunderstandings that arise thereof leave in it's wake a dysfunctional  and unhappy family. This movie is about the Sharma household, residing in Shanti Niwas, in other words an 'abode of peace',  which is anything but peaceful. This joint family is notorious for not being able to retain a cook  or a bawarchi for more than a month. Unexpected and a welcome surprise is Raghu's (Rajesh Khanna) smiling face early one morning, knocking at the door seeking employment. He is intelligent, a jack of all trades and bubbling with wit and humor. Raghu soon wins over the family and peace and happiness descends on Shanti Niwas. But hiding behind all the laughter and cheer Raghu seems to have a hidden agenda. An Indian take on the affable Mary Poppins.

A light, delightful movie, inspired from a Bengali film, this movie was directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

My happy number -

Word for the day :-

effete - over- refined

Taare Zameen Par (2007)

An outstanding movie made by an exceptional actor, who has proven himself to be a brilliant director. Kudos to, Aamir Khan!
When I watched this film, my cousin accompanied me to the movies. He was to join a boarding school that academic year and interestingly, in Panchgani too (the same place this movie was shot).  Going to boarding school was not a thrilling prospect having lived an extremely sheltered life thus fa. Did the movie help, I'll have to ask him ...

This movie has explored the unchartered waters of ‘dyslexia’, in India and revolves around eight year old Ishaan Awasthi (Darsheel Zafry), the younger of two children in the Awasthi household. Ishaan is so adorable, with soulful eyes, two buck teeth and brimming with talent when handed a paint brush and an easel . But, and that is a big one, while Ishaan's  older bother is good academically and is an accomplished sportsman, Ishaan is a poor performer in school. His life is filled with colors, dancing alphabets and numbers. Frustrated beyond measure and hoping to straighten out his "way ward" son, Ishaan’s father decides to send him to a boarding school in Panchgani. This decision is a blessing in disguise. Ishaan's substitute art teacher, Ram Shankar Nikumbh (Aamir Khan) is a god send and he is able to secernate Ishaan’s inherent problem. With a well of patience  and love, Ram Shankar brings out the best in the little boy. After the many tears shed, Ishaan now has a reason to smile.

The movie is touching, gripping. and a definite must watch. 

Saudagar (1973)

At the crack of dawn, Moti is awake every morning harvesting toddy from the date palms he rents. The hard work pays off as Moti earns a name for selling the best jaggery (gur) in town, making him a household name. Saudagar in Hindi means 'Trader' and this is a story about Moti (Amitabh Bachchan), a jaggery trader. Mejuben (Nutan), a widow, prepares delicious gur from the toddy that Moti collects, earning a humble amount as a means of livelihood.  However there are a triangle of characters - Moti is in love with Phoolbanu but he is unable to marry her just yet as her father expects a handsome dowry. Being a shrewd and manipulative businessman, Moti arrives at a solution. Moti marries Mejuben intending to save the wages he otherwise has to pay her. Having taken on many more trees he is soon able to collect the agreed amount and without any qualms, he divorces Mejuben to marry the girl of his dreams.

But it can't be as simple as all that now, can it? How will fate intervene? Will there be redemption for Mejuben?

A simple portrayal of the complexity of relationships, greed, the lack of scruples and the resulting havoc, ruining lives in the bargain.

A must watch on a rainy Sunday afternoon, with a bowl of popcorn and steaming hot bhajjis

Word for the day :-
orotund - (of a person's voice) resonant and imposing