Into that heaven of freedom, my father, let my civilization awake.

Are we taught hypocrisy as a religion?

I question.

Why should i not ask when in doubt?

I ask.

Why should i be silent when i should shout?

I demand.

Why can’t i do what i wish to, especially, if i’m not hurting anyone?

I demand.

I dint get the answers. So, now i feel that i’m too old to rebel, pursue, question, and be irrational.

Kuch dhundla hai, kuch bikhra sa

Kuch guzarta sa, par kuch thehra sa

Sab apni kehte- sunte-jataate hain,

Har nazar mein magar kuch chaupaate hain.

Sabko ik dar sa koi sataata hai.

Duniya ka, iss duniya daari ka.

Farz ka, nafarmaani ka, kisi na kisi beyimaani ka.

Itna kuch aapas mein gunthaa sa hai

Ki sab lagta hai uljha uljha sa

Koi kuch kehta, koi kuch batata hai.

Sabke sach ka ek pehnaawa hai.

Kiska sach sachha aur kiska jhootha hai,

Ye hisaab kise lagaana aata hai.

Dheere dheere daayra ghat raha hai

Apna sach khud todta-banaata hai

Ab dhundla pan kuch hua hai kam

Nazar aata hai jabse aankh nahi hai nam

Dur nikal jaaun is daayre se kahin

Jahan apne sach ki pakki ho neev

Na ho aadha jhooth aur na ho sach adhura

Jahan na ho kuch dhundla aur na kuch bikhra

Sametne ki fikar na sataati ho jahan,

Baantne ki niyat basti ho jahan.

Imtiaz Ali wins hearts as a story-teller yet again!

Highway - A destined journey to meet the self!

It’s somewhat rare for our cinema to make movies based totally on the strength of its story. Here’s a movie which was made, released and promoted like any other commercial movie but had a heart and brain both beyond that. The life of ‘Highway’ was its plot. A rich, young girl who gets abducted and as the tag line suggests, “Finds freedom in bondage”.

Veera (Alia) seems to be a lucky girl from a high class, elite family who is soon to get married. Much later, after her kidnapping, she shares that she is a victim of child molestation and is still figuring out the sensibilities of the world around her. Mahavir (Randeep), the leader of her kidnappers, on the other hand has also had a troubled child- hood which brings them close and later, even together.

The most different and the convincing thing about this movie is its ending, (though most of you may disagree), that she ends up sticking to the disregard for the world where she was born and brought up. She refuses to accept the artificiality and ugliness of her old world after she finds the honesty in the outside and so-called unsafe world. She chooses to quit her past and build her future to embrace her new found freedom.

A special mention to the scene where ‘Mahavir’ lets ‘Veera’ try to escape and where she tries to run to an open and barren land. She finds herself beneath an endless land and a shore-less sky. And it’s then when she looks at the twinkling stars and runs back to her kidnappers. This reminded me of the scene from the “Life of Pi”, where Pi imagines a whole lot of beautiful images emerging from the ocean.

Just like Alia Bhatt’s screen presence, it was a pure and honest effort of Imtiaz’s. Randeep spoke much more through his silence and tears this time.

Rehman’s soulful music breathed life in the scenes.

Anil Mehta’s cinematography was simple and calm, and yet moving. It helped us appreciate some parts of our Indian Landscape, yet again.

A serious, heart-touching watch!

Sabab.

Khoj raha hoon ab tak

Mila nahi jo ab tak

Makaam tha jo ek paane ko

Sabab tha ek jo aane ko

Der ho chuki bohut hai,

Sham bhi ab hone ko hai

Kab tak milega ye sab

Ye sabak aur ye sabab

Lagta hai kuch der aur hai

Saare sabak jod ke kitaab ik banaayi thi

Uske har panne ka apna ek usool tha

Usi se lekar aage tak lekha jokha tha

Pakke the usooldaar hum bhi,

Par palat gaya sab jo lekha jokha tha

Makaam reh gaya kuch peeche hai

Aj malaal kuch zada hain

Dheere se har raat kehta hoon

Subah ek naye ayaam se sajda hai

Fir aj raat ik karvat aisi loon

Ki har ayaam naya ek sabab bhi hai

Kal ke uss savere mein kuch bhi

Besabab nahi hai, har saans ka kuch matlab hai.