Dil Dosti Dilemma

This is a story about a young girl, Asmara who has all the privileges one can wish for. She lives in her own world – shopping with her friends, chilling out without much worry. However, she fails to give respect to her own maternal grandmother, who comes from a humble background, in front of her friends. As a punishment, her mother cancels her upcoming trip to Canada and sends her to stay with her grandparents during summer holidays. Asmara lies to her friends about her predicament, trying to create a false world of her own. On the other hand, she finds it difficult to adjust to her new environment, without air conditioners, attached washrooms, chauffeur driven cars and what is worse, full of nosy neighbours. However, she settles down and makes friends with the chirpy Ruksana, who is about her age only. She encourages Ruksana to pursue her talent and also to start a small scale business. Asmara befriends Farzaan, Ruksana’s elder brother and gradually develops feelings for him.

Parallel story lines are interwoven in the script wherein their humble surroundings lack basic amenities of water and electricity and also face impending threat of builders mowing down the old buildings in name of “redevelopment”. Asmara’s friends face challenges in their personal lives too and they come together to promise to face the challenges and never to lie to each other. The series is wrapped up in a hurried manner, but leaves some strings dangling, creating ground for an upcoming season.

Great acting by Tanvi Azmi and Shishir Sharma, who play Asmara’s grandparents, add weight to the series. The young actors also have done well.

Image courtesy: Google

Laapataa Ladies

What a story and how well has it been narrated! Disguised as a comedy film, this movie subtly touches upon how women find themselves in rural India - married off young, sometimes against their wishes, made to pull their veil over their faces, and what not. In a comic situation, a young groom, Deepak Kumar deboards a train with a wrong bride, who was also travelling in the same cubicle as the original couple. The goof up is realized once they reach home. A parallel story develops when Deepak’s wife, Phool finds herself alone at an unknown railway station. She is a simple girl who does not remember name of the village she was destined to, so unaware of the big bad world outside that she chooses to live in the platform. Her innocence goes miles when she chooses to wear her bridal saree everyday so that her newly wed husband can recognize her when he comes to look for her. The story underlines her interpersonal skills and cooking abilities, as she slowly carves out her niche.

Back in the village, Jaya takes the chance offered to her by destiny. She assumes a false identity, and stays back with Deepak’s family. She helps them to solve problems of insects in crop without using pesticides and also encourages the women in the family to assert their preferences and believe in themselves. Veteran actor Ravi Kishan plays the paan chewing, corrupt police officer who finds Jaya, but supports her to follow her dreams.

A key takeaway from the film is that in reality, women are capable of looking after themselves, and dont need men much.

The cast is new, some of them include debutants (Pratibha Ratna and Nitanshi Goel). Sparsh Srivastava bring alive the village boy character. 

A must-watch film for everyone. 

Image courtesy: Google 

Cheer a Child - a Campaign all of us should join!

Festivity is in the air. While you gear up for the celebrations, spare a thought for those who never do.

Dabur India Ltd, a brand we all know of, along with Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre Society have launched a programme in major cities of Delhi - NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Maharashtra in order to bring a smile to underprivileged children. All that one has to do is to give a missed call to +91-7053123123. The caller would receive an automated call back and he can record a wish for a child. And for every wish recorded, one pack of Real fruit juice would be committed to a child in need.

Further, a dedicated team from Réal will visit big markets across these states to garner support for the neglected, street and working children. They will educate people about the nutrition needs of underprivileged kids and encourage them to sign on a pledge to support these kids. Against each signature, Dabur has committed to give one pack of Réal fruit beverage to a child in need. This initiative is not linked to any product purchase and all that is required from the people is a signature or a wish as a mark of their support.

Isn't this a wonderful opportunity to spread cheer among children? Please find out more by watching the video here.

"An Unsung Love Story" : My entry for the Get Published contest

Its a new initiative from Indiblogger and Harper Collins: Submit your story and you may be published. There's a theme: "Real Love in New India". However exciting it may sound, there is also a catch - Its got to be REAL. That is, you may talk about your own story (are you MAD?) or someone else's (Thank God!!).

We have to submit just our idea about the story, and explain why we want to write about it. We shall get assistance in weaving the final version of our own short story. 

 

So here goes: Plot of a True Story of Love: AN UNSUNG LOVE STORY

Boy and Girl are classmates. Girl gets married right after college - keeps in touch with Boy through letters. [No internet and other technologies at that time]. They realize what they mean to each other when there is a gap in communication. Girl has had twin boys by then but she believes in her love and moves out. She takes up a job, and applies for custody of her kids. Girl’s husband is sceptical of social stigma, and delays the divorce. What happens next? Will Boy and Girl ever be united? Will she get the custody of the kids? Wait for more...

The reason of selecting this story is the Boy is one of my closest friends and I am also a witness of their struggle. I admire their commitment to their relationship, and want the world to know about their story. This shall go a long way to inspire couples who hesitate to take bold steps in crisis situations.

I hope you guys like the story line. I look forward to encouragement from you!

Image Source: here, duly "Photoshopped" by me.

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This is my entry for the HarperCollins–IndiBlogger Get Published contest, which is run with inputs fromYashodhara Lal and HarperCollins India.

Can you hear me?

Big city people are vociferous against child labour, yet unusually blind to it. When I bring you a glass of tea on the roadside, wipe the tables and clean the utensils, how come I miss your vision without fail?

Years ago, Mohan, our gardener, had kidnapped me from my home on the hills. Grandpa trusted him with not only the garden but also my safety, because I would be running around the garden. My parents used to work in the tea gardens – they returned at the fag end of the day.

Mohan took advantage of their absence and your age, Grandpa. On a day when clouds descended in a gentle mist, he slipped out with me on his shoulders... away from you, my family, my roots!!

I am here, Grandpa. Send Papa, please. Tell him to punish all Mohans who rob kids of their childhood. I don’t want to be “Chhotu”.. I am your naughty little brat!!

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Child labour is rising at an alarming rate, friends. Its time we join hands against it.
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This post is part of the contest A picture can say a thousand words.. on WriteUpCafe.com