The Skeleton Twins (2014)

The 'Skeleton Twins' is a story about twins, Milo (Bill Hader) and Maggie (Kristen Wigg). While Milo lives in LA, where he hoped to make it in the movies, Maggie stayed close to home. Living in Nyack, New York, Maggie has been married to Lance for about two years and they are trying to start a family. Having lost touch with each other the Fates finally intervene to bring the estranged siblings together. A suicidal Maggie is just about to pop a fistful of pills, when a phone call interrupts her. The call is from a hospital in LA informing her about Milo's suicide attempt. After a brief visit Maggie is able to convince Milo to head back to NY and live with her till he's stable.
After 10 long years the twins finally catch up with each other's lives .. a gay Milo admits to having failed to make it in the movies and is still single. Maggie admits to using birth control to avoid having a baby with Lance, while she sleeps around with the instructors for the numerous courses she is signed up for. What a mess!
But blood runs thicker than water and after putting aside their differences , the 'Skeleton Twins' are now stronger than ever.
The name conjured up images of a thriller of some sort. Surprise, surprise it turned out to be a great family movie. Now that's my kind of movie.

Butterflies are free (1972)

Gorgeous, vivacious and free-spirited Jill Tanner (Goldie Hawn) has just moved to San Francisco hoping to make it as an actress in the theatre. She is pleasantly surprised to see she has a good looking neighbor at her new apartment. So Jill invites herself over for coffee and makes her aquatintance. As Don Baker's (Edward Albert) story goes, he is a song writer and guitarist in search of prospects and is new to the city like Jill. He has lived a privileged and protected life thus far being the only son of authoress Florence Baker and hopes to make a place for himself in the world. He has one condition for his overly protective mother that she is not to pay her son a visit for a couple of months. Doesn't that seen odd? Well it is, but not once you are privy to the fact that Don is blind. This is an eye-opener for Jill who had never before encountered a blind person. She is charmed with how happy, independent and smart Don comes across despite all odds.
All is well till Florence drops in for a surprise visit to find both Don and Jill in their underwear. Soon Jill takes immense pleasure in shocking the condescending Florence and spills scandalous facts about herself, like for one how she was married and divorced after only 6 days at 19. Horrified and even more determined to lookout for her son's best interests, Florence is convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that Don would be safer back home with her. Will he ever be free to spread his wings like the butterflies he sings about? Let's hope so.
Goldie Hawn has delivered a witty performance. This fun movie is engaging and screams brilliant. A cast of three has brilliantly carried this film, leaving you delighted without a single bored moment. A new favorite.

Be Happy For this Moment. This moment is your life! ~ Omar Khayyam

On world happiness day I would like to wish my readers much happiness and joy.

How do you define happiness? That's a word, the definition of which, would mean different things to different people. And rightfully so! For some it could be emotional, for others material, then for some spiritual ....

We go through so much each day right from the moment we wake up, that in the whirl of all the busyness and the flurry of activities it's easy to forget the good moments. Most times it is the unpleasant ones that stays with us long after the day is over. So what can be done? Do what I do - be an accountant and keep a ledger/diary of happiness. Mostly as the day draws to an end out comes my book where I jot down the things that made me happy or simply smile. The end of the day works best - just as I'm winding down seems like the perfect time to acknowledge how lucky I am. Most times memory fades. My little journal helps to remind me of all the happy, silly and fun memories of moments passed. This is so therapeutic and a perfect reminder of how blessed we are in so many ways.

Here is 'Happy' sung by none other than my favorite singer. A young, innocent voice, 

So heart wrenchingly melancholic and haunting!

The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014)

Mr. Kadam (Om Puri), fondly called Papa, believes that "if the brakes break, it's for a reason." So as the almost broken down van 🚐  carrying the Kadam family smashes to a halt in the village of Saint Antonin, in rural France, Mr. Kadam is convinced this is home. Here is where the family would open the Indian restaurant they'd always dreamed of. However this idea is not welcomed by  the locals, especially Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren), the owner of a Michelin Star restaurant in the village. Madame Mallory is aspiring to achieve her second Michelin star and her restaurant boasts of feeding a delicious fare to the elite of French society, including the French President himself. And like any chef who takes immense pride in their culinary creations, soon war breaks out between the Indian murg mussallam 🐔  and the French pigeon 🐦 and truffles. However Hasan Haji (Manish Dayal), Papa's beloved son and cook who has immense potential, is able to win over the enemy with the perfect omelette. But Hasan must take a hundred foot walk that will change his life and future prospects - all for the best.
Watch the tale as it unfolds to tell you a story of brave beginnings, the power of negotiations and of standing by your convictions.
This is to my lovely friends who now live in France 🇫🇷 👊 😘.

Baby Baby Baby (2015)

And just in time for Valentine's day I watched "Baby, Baby, Baby". I'd never heard of this movie but the story definitely intrigued me.
LA, the city of angels and where people come to fulfill their dreams is the stage for this drama. Meet beautiful, tall and "thin" Sunny, a struggling artist by day and a bartender by night and Sydney, a struggling actor who has made it to a few commercials but in not too flattering a role. A chance meeting in a park, a brief conversation and a quick introduction later this story is rolling. Watch the tale unfold as Sydney and Sunny struggle through life and their relationship, riding all it's highs and lows. 
I love that the movie is simple and real and it will strike a cord with almost anyone.

I've been asked before if there is anything as being lucky in love? I don't think so! Finding love is probably destiny but keeping it is pure hard-work and this coming from someone who has been in a relationship for the past 20 years. I am no expert, oh no Sir! 👆But there is one thing I do know - Nothing is easy. Love hurts and heals, it tries and rewards, it breaks and builds.

Remember this - there are no manuals or a super-glue for relationships .. a commitment and your readiness to work your "ass-off" is what will keep your relationship going. There is no place for three in a marriage so you gotta boot that ego out the door, keep an openess for self-improvement and practicing patience would go a long way;  Oh! A little give and take wouldn't hurt anyone and could make you smile a whole lot wider.😊
I found the following link so refreshing - 
When you know you've found the one.

"You are my best friend as well as my lover, and I do not know which side of you I enjoy the most. I treasure each side, just as I have treasured our life together." - Nicholas Sparks

... There is more to come ... Stay tuned ..

Ghost (1990)

And so the story goes .. that's the way many stories end. But not this one and this is the way I like to tell it -

Hot shot New York banker, Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze) and the beautiful Molly (Demi Moore), a sculptor and avant garde are a couple very much in love. Theirs is a romance we all dream of having but this love story is wrought with tragedy. Sam is killed in what is believed to be a mugging and the only way to prove otherwise isn't as simple as all that. Playing detective is Sam's ghost but not alone. He seeks the help of a much sought after psychic, Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg). Here unravels a tale of love, treachery, motivated by greed and then culminates with sweet revenge.
Always a favorite with me and if I need a good boo-hoo, it's on, period!

And with goose-bumps and all The Righteous Brothers (1965) - Unchained Melody

My Church Mouse and Frank Sinatra - Cheek To Cheek (lyrics)

My favorite mouse is here!

I hope we all find someone to dance "Cheek To Cheek" with! I love this song! 💃

Boyhood (2014)

Gosh I am at a loss for words! Kudos to director Richard Linklater for delivering a hero of all movies. After watching this film, I was instantly enamored. Such powerful story-telling and also enthralling was the fact that the movie took 12 years to make and the star, Ellar Coltrane who played Mason on whose life this whole story revolves, played his part from start to finish. Amazing! The numerous awards this movie took home is proof of its brilliance.

It was great to see Mason metamorphose from an insecure little boy to a strong and mature adult.

This film could speak to almost all of us. It's about the plight of the little people (my favorite word for children 😊)  and their little/huge challenges they face in their 'oh so important' formative years, personalities waiting to shapen, about single parents and the personal struggles of trying to raise confident and strong individuals, about making the right choices ... what's not to like, Right!

I super like! 👍

Incidentally I happened on this book ↗, a story about growing up in South Africa. Different but gripping nonetheless.

This is my new favorite ... A lovely soundtrack

Dil Chahata Hain (2001)

This movie I totally get! 👍 It's fun, vibrant and a movie that perfectly depicts young friendship today. This film was the breakthrough in cinema that India was looking for that, successfully bringing out the latent talents of stalwarts like Aamir and his costars in the film.

The storyline is simple and yet ...
Three staunch friends with distinct personalities share a bond that runs deep, keeping things interesting, unexpected and fun.
Of the three, Sid (Akshaye Khanna) is the quiet and mature one and is a gifted, professional artist. He falls in love with an older divorcee (Dimple Khanna) who is an alcoholic and the mother of  a girl as old as Sid himself. And this is so taboo!
Akash (Aamir Khan) is the impish and the son of a rich businessman. Carefree and not too encumbered with the burden of the family business, Akash has no immediate plans for his education or his future, for that matter. This is certainly a cause for worry for his family. Oh! And Akash definitely doesn't believe in love.
Sameer (Saif Ali Khan) can find love wherever he looks and it seems to be waiting to embrace him at every corner. His wild experiences with his love interests always has his friends in a stitch. But can Sameer find love just when he needs to settle down?
These friends have a falling out and soon each is charting their own path down life's road. But as tragedy strikes it is friendship that comes to the rescue in staying afloat.
                          Beautiful musical tracks by Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy! 

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 Jungle Book (2016)

As the story goes, Mowgli's father is killed by Shere Khan, the ferocious tiger. But this was not before Shere Khan is burnt by the Red Flower, known to attract and entice with its warmth but is notorious for the destruction and havoc it can leave in it's path when unrestrained. A wounded and embittered Shere Khan hightails it, unaware of the little human left in hiding. Bagheera - the panther, a total disciplinarian, finds the orphaned toddler and takes him over to the wolf-pack. Mowgli, the man cub, is brought up by the wolf-pack as one of their own and he grows up firmly believing it - he plays and races with his cub brothers and even howls like one. However once Shere Khan, who has been harboring a deep hatred for the human species sniffs him out, Mowgli is forced to flee. So begins an arduous search of his true identity. With Bagheera by his side Mowgli makes his way to the man village but his path is wrought with danger. He meets the majestic elephants, the creators of the forest. Kaa, the bone-crushing seductress, offers to take him "under her coils". Mowgli befriends Baloo, the friendly and carefree sloth bear. He is kidnapped by the Bandar log and taken to the monkey temple to meet Louie, the gigantic and paw-paw loving monkey-king. But all this is inconsequential until he faces the dreaded Shere Khan.
There have been a few onscreen adaptations of Rudyard Kipling's book but my absolute favorite is the 1967 animated version. It's wonderful how all the animals in this movie have been given such human characters. The story line has not veered too far from the original and with the help of 3D technology this movie though a tad bit scary for the children is a good one for the adults. 👌

What is this movie without the song that spells the very essence of this film.

A little bit of heaven (2011)

Happy-go-lucky Marley Corbett (Kate Hudson) is diagnosed with colon cancer and the devastating news tears her world apart. While under anesthesia Marley meets God and she is granted three wishes - so she chooses to fly, to win big money and the third ....!
When confronted with the prospect of death, life takes on a whole new meaning. Marley is able to mend fences with her separated parents - a hovering mother and a reserved father;
A close circle of friends form her pillars and see her through the difficult moments as her health steadily fails;
And having always run from the prospect of getting serious in a relationship, she finally falls in love!

This movie could not have turned out any better with Whoopi Goldberg in a cameo and Kate Hudson, who totally rocked. There are moments in the film that tug at the heart and you shed a few tears but what's different and positive is the celebration of love, relationships and life even in death.
There is a beautiful instrumental at the end of the movie but since I could not find that particular video, this one is close.

Thandi Hawa Yeh Chandni Suhani - Jhumroo Songs - Kishore Kumar and Madhubala

Remembering the yodel king of Hindi Cinema, yesteryear star Kishore Kumar.
My heart sings when I hear this song making this one of my happy numbers. 😆

Sex and the City: The Movie (2008) - Auld Lang Syne

4 lifelong friends who couldn't be more different - Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) - successful writer, Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon) - lawyer, Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall) - agent for the stars and Charlotte Goldenblatt (Kristin Davis) - happily married. All the four friends have been there for each other through thick and thin and this is their story ...
Carrie is dating John James Preston, aka Big (Chris Noth) for 10 years now and for practical reasons it seems the perfect time to tie the knot.
Way back when Miranda was dating Steve (David Eigenberg) she got pregnant and they got married. When Brady was born they moved to Brooklyn. But their marriage is on the line when Steve confesses to Miranda that he had an affair.
Samantha, the fiercely independent one, now knocking fifty - decides to follow Smith Jerrod (Jason Lewis) to the West Coast. But waiting for a man is not her cup of tea.
The only one who seems to be living her fairytale is Charlotte - she fell in love, got married and is finally pregnant.
At Big and Carrie's rehearsal dinner, an overwrought Miranda says a thing or two to Big and having been married twice before Big is spooked. It comes as a nasty surprise to Carrie when she is left waiting at the altar dressed in a couture wedding dress and no Big in sight. Jilted, humiliated and hurt this seems like the end of Carrie's and Big's love story!
But as Valentine's Day rolls around secrets are out in the open. Will there be a fairytale ending where everyone lives happily ever after?



My numero uno chick flick! Totally magical and every girl's dream - Fashion, Friendship and Love from Manhattan to Brooklyn to LA ...

Word for the day :-
narcissism - excessive interest in or admiration of oneself and one's physical appearance

Gandhi (1982)

I could never do justice to a review on the movie that aptly portrays the life and times of the great man, Mahatma Gandhi! Over my lifetime I have watched Gandhi on numerous occasions and there have been too many to count. That being said, I can hear my family groan if I tune in to the movie telecast on television. But that does not deter me in the least.

The year is 1893. A life-changing and soon to become a defining moment in world history took place. A young Mohandas Gandhi, an Indian barrister, all of 23 years and educated in London was travelling in a train. Holding a first class ticket, and looking forward to his new work assignment in this different land - South Africa, he was comfortable in his first-class compartment. Despite having a first class ticket he was asked to vacate the first class owing to the color of his skin or be thrown off the train. By his refusal to give up his rightful seat, he chose the latter. He was deeply disturbed by this episode and decided to fight against racial discrimination that was prevalent in the South Africa of the day. He was able to draw attention to his work and the support of the local prosperous but suppressed Indian community

Gandhi subsequently returns to India and embarks on a path of self realization and satyagraha (a policy of passive political resistance - as defined by Oxford Dictionary) and the non-cooperation movement fought towards India's independence. His simplicity and struggles earned him the name, Bapu - Father of the Nation. As they say, the rest is history! The movie though long, is riveting.
Gandhi was nominated for the Academy Awards in 1982, in 11 categories. It won in 8 categories, including the Best Actor award by Ben Kingsley.

 

Just as summer and the heat were to set in we paid a visit to Aga Khan Palace, Pune.
This was a place that played a pivotal role in the life of Bapu. This was where he, his wife - Kasturba Gandhi  and his secretary were under house arrest , during the Indian Freedom movement. The palace is a memorial (Samadhi) to the ashes of Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai (Gandhi's Secretary).

Reflection Song: Whatsoever You Do

My maternal grandparents were staunch supporters for an assortment of causes. They were there to lend a hand to their church and community, financially supporting institutions like the blind school, hard up students studying in seminaries, the school for the deaf ... all these were the few I knew of. I was grandpa's self-appointed "mailman", only too happy to mail his letters, pick up stamps when he would run out and I didn't mind ferrying the mail to him as soon as it would arrive. There seemed to be so much in the mail and at times I would wonder what a retired man was doing to receive all this correspondence. When my grandpa passed and news spread to all those far-and-wide, we were inundated with mail. These letters were from the strangest places all of them passing on to the grieving family their condolences. We were taken aback when we realized the numerous causes he was involved with. By nature he was stoic and self-effacing! Characteristics I've tried to imbibe. In my own little way, I strived to do my best. If I could only go back in time for just a moment, I would love to see him bent at his desk nursing his glass of Wincarnis deeply buried in a book ..

A man at a Desk - Leopold von Kalckreuth,

The National Museum in Warsaw

My tooth-fairy was pretty generous, let me tell you. I had accumulated quite the packet by the time my last milk tooth bid farewell. Our school would take us to an orphanage annually where we would spend the day and I would return home grateful and humbled by the experience. Without any qualms whatsoever I was convinced this was where I wanted to deploy my kitty. As little as that was, I hoped I made a difference.
We are all angels and are unaware of the impact we make in this world, in our own way - a smile, a kind word, a helping hand ... ! To all the blessed people reading this, continue to make a difference and stay blessed!

Here is one of my favorite hymns -

In A New York Minute - The Eagles

We are all constantly chasing after something and as time skips merrily along, a little too fast at times, the years roll on by in the blink of an eye and it could be over before we know it.

Occasionally we need to settle down, even if only for a minute - to watch the sunrise, feel the breeze, smell the coffee, listen to the birds .... whatever your heart fancies - 

and essentially give ear to nature as it gives it's speech to us in a million ways.

We are surrounded with so much beauty, it's right here and we forget we don't need big bucks to appreciate them.
Go on have a smashing day!

The Fields of Athenry ( lyrics )

I attended a private school founded by Irish nuns and one that flourished under their tutelage. And that would explain why we were partial to the Irish and their deep, mellisonant songs. We would sing a popular few during music class when we wanted to break the monotony from the demanding practice schedules. 
I was lucky to visit Ireland some years ago and I instantly fell in love with the beautiful Emerald Isle. I was looking through some pictures we had clicked, fondly remembering the lush, rolling hills dotted with sheep, enchanting gabled homes, a cold glass of Guinness and the hearty Irish breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, a fried tomato and pudding. Oh the Memories!

Here is a song I love and one I would like to share ...

"Trading Places" (1983) with "Soul Man" (1986)

Need a good laugh and it's mission accomplished with both these films. A high-five to the perfect duo!

Randolph (Ralph Bellamy) and Mortimer ( Don Ameche) Duke are two rich brothers who own a

successful brokerage firm in Philadelphia. Louis Winthorpe ll (Dan Aykroyd) works for the brothers as a commodity broker and leads a privileged, upper-middle class life. On the opposite end of the social scale is Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy), a street opportunist looking to make a quick buck. The Duke brothers encounter Ray and an opportunity opens up for a bet. They believe that under the right circumstances even a poor person like Ray could make good and become another Louis Winthorpe. Soon Ray is living Louis's privileged life - a company owned home, a butler at his disposal, a chauffeur driven car and entry into an elite tennis club while Louis is out on the streets having lost his home, friends and fiancé and all his money. Ophelia (Jamie Lee Curtis), a prostitute, after hearing his story feels sorry for him and takes him in. From here on starts Louis's mission to get his life back on track. A perfect cocktail of "gigantically hilarious" proportions with Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis.
Trading Places is based on Mark Twain's "Prince and the Pauper", an early 19th Century publication.
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Mark Watson's (C. Thomas Howell) dream has come true - he has been accepted into law school at Harvard. But this comes at a cost! When Mark Watson gets his college acceptance letter his happiness is short-lived. Even though he is from a wealthy family Mark is forced to pay his way through college and this seems highly improbable. So Mark decides to apply for a  scholarship, which is incidentally only for African American students. Surprise, surprise - Mark is as white as they come. But a man's got to do what a man's got to do and Mark decides to cheat. Mark exceeds a tanning pill dosage and  now seemingly Black he must face Harvard life. On his scholastic journey he meets and falls for Sarah Walker (Ray Dawn Chong) and is greeted with a few surprises that forces him to question his ways.
Soul-searching and funny!

And ... there were showers

During the homily at church last Sunday, father asked a very pertinent question! He wanted to know if anyone from the congregation had witnessed a miracle that day and to raise their hand. I didn't have to think too much for I had an answer .. I did have a miracle .. The long - awaited monsoons had finally arrived and I was alive and truly well to experience it.

The skies had been dark and ominous for a few days now .. The clouds were laden and hovered, waiting to spill their drops onto the parched earth. I was sitting by the window when the first drops fell .. Sipping my tea, watching and listening to the music of rain drops as they pitter-pattered down was a miracle in itself. There it was - nature's attempt at gifting us a clean slate after a brutal summer, a new season full of the promise of new life. The birds are reveling, the flowers were in bloom  and soon the rains had rendered the air crisp and cool.

With eyes turned heaven-ward and a prayer on my lips I said "Thank you" for the gloriously cool drops  ... I can only stop to gaze and appreciate the wonder of it all ..  

A self click during a road trip



One of my favorite "rain" numbers