Movie Review: Airlift

" Sir, kucch mila? 

Haan, Iraqi biscuit, Klecha".

Director: Raja Menon

Starring: Akshay Kumar (Ranjit Katyal)
               Nimrat Kaur (Amrita Katyal)
               Purab Kohli (Ibrahim Durrani)

Recommended for: people interested in war-based stories or rescue operations

The Gist: Rescue operation of Indian-origin people residing or working in Kuwait in the Iraq-Kuwait war backdrop.

+ve points: 

A refreshing break from stories highlighting how the rich and affluent do not care for masses, or party all night in their Guccis and Pradas and un-real dance sequences in foreign locales.The movie had a hero Ranjit Katyal, a big businessman, who though initially wanted to flee with his family when the war broke out, stands up for his workers, their families and lakhs of strangers of Indian origin. This shows that people with riches and position should neither be seen as apathetic to society, nor should they give up in weak moments, if they can, in any way, contribute to society.

All the characters are so real.

• Ranjit- the character shows that 'rich' people with 'comfortable' lives are very valuable to society. It means a lot if such persons with the right contacts, excellent negotiation skills, business sense, an understanding of people, power and money and good amount of funds put these things to use in crisis situations.
• Amrita- the wife of rich businessman Ranjit, who is crazed when her husband won't flee but 'save' his workers and their families.
• Ashok and Kurien- other businessmen who much like Ranjit in the beginning want to escape and not get involved in 'social service'. Very real human nature. If we have means, we always try to save ourselves first and rarely try to involve ourselves in helping others. And it takes guts to not run away. 
• Sanjiv Kohli- a 'babu' in Ministry of External Affairs in India, who is not 'in-charge of Gulf division' and so wouldn't like to get involved just because some guy from Kuwait had Kohli's desk number. Again, human nature- why should I get my hands dirty when it's not even my job. The man though has a heart and does try to seek help from mantriji, other babus, aviation department etc. Another character which shows that educated civil servants of our country are not just super intelligent and hard working, but very valuable to society, if they have the will to get the job done.
• Air India pilots- outraged to fly civilian planes over war-zone, ultimately showing courage in this risky undertaking of evacuation. 

My Say: I cried all through the first half and the Tiranga in the climax put a smile on my face. The story was about Indian-origin people who had been living as Kuwaitis, but realize that Indians they really are. It made me be proud to be an Indian too. A good feeling, specially when Republic Day is round the corner :)

An exciting night

Powai to Colaba, via the free-way at night. The lights in the background, viewed from a fast moving car, with a cool breeze through the window through my hair. Friends mocking the RJs of all the FM stations.

Marine Drive, some of my friends chewing sliced raw mangos, one having cotton candy, another one getting her pictures taken and yet another one glued to the phone. Enter two strange men, one tuning his guitar strings while the other one gazing into the stars and a few flying lanterns. The men sit next to us girls, facing the sea and start jamming. And suddenly we all are singing to their tunes. It's midnight and we and more strangers all around are One under the night sky, in front of the sea, with the music.

As someone who gets sickness in the Mumbai traffic and is averse to being out after eight, this experience just blew me away.

A few of my friends enjoyed getting ready for the night, make-up and accessories and everything girls do, some of them ticked the 'Colaba Social' experience off their list and probably many other things. But I wasn't really into it, until the ride on the free-way and the jamming by the sea.

In the hindsight, these happy experiences came out of some begrudging choices. I hate to be the one to always sit in the passenger seat when we book a taxi. I know why that is, because I'm fat and it makes no sense for other girls to be cramped with me in the back-seat. So by default I sit next to the driver. But then the free-way happened. Also, I wasn't really keen on going to the Marine Drive, as it was late in the night (by my standards). Good thing I tagged along with my group, or there wouldn't have been any starry musical night.

Sometimes it's good to go out of your zone, do things you don't want to and see the world a little differently. Well, sometimes :)

TV Review: TBBT Season 9 Episode 13

Title: The Empathy Optimization

The Gist: The gang is hurt from Sheldon's meanness, despite taking care of him when he's sick. Amy helps Sheldon realize his insensitive behaviour. Sheldon then takes it upon himself to apologise to every one.

+ve points: 

1. The episode addresses the series' elephant in the room- Sheldon's attitude towards people doing the thankless job of taking care of a sick Sheldon. In first few seasons, we have seen all hell break loose for Leonard, Penny and others whenever Sheldon contracts an illness. Although enjoyable to see our socially retarded hero irritating others, in real life, we all would find such a person absolutely abominable. It's good that he's shown to understand and work on it at this point in his life.
2. Unlike initial seasons, where the guys would cater to his whims while hating him in silence, they now stand up against him, vocally expressing their displeasure. This too is in tune with the changed tides. All these men have grown up over the last 9 years- Howard and Leonard are married men, Raj is no more the nervous nelly and even Stuart has sailed through financial ups and downs and now seems to be doing well for himself. It's good to see each character go through a phase of personal growth. 
3. Emily has always been a strong woman. But I have always hated her: morbid fantasies, hate for Penny, cruel Clogzilla incident with Howard, enjoyment of Howard-Stuart tiff during Prom do-over. The writers should be applauded for changing my sentiment for her in just one episode. Every character has faced Sheldon in different ways, this was Emily's turn. 

My say: It's great that the writers are keeping Amy away from Sheldon after their big night. The first half of this season was too ShAmy. Amy, who used to show reverence to Sheldon in her pre-coitus days, is now shown to be a fox, overstaying in Detroit to avoid nursing the ailing Sheldon. Personal growth for her too.

TV Review: TBBT Season 9 Episode 12

Title: The Sales Call Sublimation

The Gist: Bernadette and Howard remodel their house. Raj and Sheldon work together in astrophysics lab. Leonard and Penny see a psychiatrist.

-ve points:

1. After waiting through the euphoric holiday season, the latest episode was a lacklustre. The least exciting of all the other episodes this season and probably one of the least fun from the entire series.
2. It started off good. And there were some sparse funny moments throughout. But despite the usuals like science stuff and Leonard bashing, the episode didn't generate much laughs. 
3. The ending, where Leonard is shown smiling and giggling while skipping the rope, is plain stupid.

+ve points:

1. Amy and Sheldon are shown to be the same. She expects romance and he is disgusted by neurobiology. 
2. Since Amy's away, Sheldon's free to be 'entertained'. Which of the boys get their Sheld-ON? 
3. Penny uses Leonard for work, much like the olden days, when the series was all about these two. Leonard is the laughing stock for the other boys. Classic stuff. So what's Leonard's game? 

• Low self esteem, social anxiety, sexual insecurity
• Denial
• Fear of failure, lack of confidence, kind of a wuss
• Pushover, spineless

Twist: Stuart makes a 'move'.

My Say: Sheldon had some good lines.

"Look, an Indian outsourcing computer work to a white man"

or

Raj: I should warn you. There'll be a lot of staring at a computer screen,..

Sheldon: You already won kid, stop selling it.

People!

Although there are 11 more days before 2015 ends, but based on the past 354 days, I can say that this year has been the year of People!

Not only did I meet many more people, I also got to see new faces of some old faces. Some people got to see a different me as well.

I tried many new things in 2015, like going to the office, not just writing but standing up for what I believe in and very recently, being an editor of a fun Facebook page. Which means that I'm working, strong-willed and funny, respectively. Yay! 

Office stint gave a glimpse of Corporate world. Some people are phony, some very real but everyone's competitive. 

Meanwhile I wrote a blogpost that caused quite a controversy. It was a learning experience for me. I found out that 'self-deprecating' style of writing is not welcome by all readers. Also, that people very carelessly tend to use terms like 'sexism'. Another insight is that sarcasm is not easy to understand. Or handle. Most importantly, people turn from 'friends' to 'people' in tough times. And some friends prove to be true friends. But one thing's for sure, I never felt like a Rockstar before! :D 

And the Facebook page thing. Sometimes good things come from the most unexpected quarters. I didn't know that many people follow me on social media so closely, or find me humorous. Well, thank you!

TV Review: TBBT Season 9 Episode 11

Title: The Opening Night Excitation

The Gist: The wait is over. Star Wars fans rejoice. Star Wars The Force Awakens is here. ShAmy fans squeak. Sheldon 'gives it' to the birthday girl Amy.

The Best Moments:
(or a list of every moment of this episode :D)

1. We have seen the boys anxiously spending hours online to get Comic Con tickets. We have seen them wait outside theatres for hours and hours to see extra 21 seconds of Indiana Jones. But this is Star Wars. Tickets go for sale early. Website gets frozen. Sheldon kneels to the Lord. Howard gets the tickets. Victory.
2. Sheldon and Amy are back together. After their shocking break-up to Sheldon's intended proposal to moving on to failed attempts at dating others to Amy trying to get back together and Sheldon rejecting to them kissing passionately and making up, does it get better? It does. It's Amy's birthday. 
   
3. Sheldon's beloved Professor Proton in his Obi-Wan avatar comes time and again in Sheldon's dreams with his delightful humour and helpful advice. Poor Professor Proton.
4. Sheldon decides to not watch Star Wars on its opening day and celebrate Amy's birthday. He asks Penny and Bernadette to help him choose from three birthday gifts: 1) A Harp-thing 2) A Sheep-thing and 3) The Wow-Thing. Penny broke her wine glass and I dropped my jaw.
5. The girls take Amy out for a pre-celebration for the big day- 'the big night'. 
6. Wil Wheaton does the unthinkable. In a theatre full of Star Wars fans, he comes dressed in a Star Trek uniform. 
   
7. As the end of wait approaches, Amy and Sheldon are nervous. So are Leonard, Raj and Howard. How will it feel like? How will the movie be like? 
8. At the finale, Sheldon had fun. Amy too. Leonard, Raj and Howard too. All sigh with satisfaction. Never thought I could write this line for a TBBT episode :P
   
9. The naughty Professor returns in Sheldon's sleep, this time willingly, to find out 'how was it?' Sheldon found it great... Amy found it fine too. Of-course she's not familiar with the Star Wars franchise. Of-course Sheldon will be Sheldon! 

My Say:

This was the first time I have giggled and giggled and giggled while watching a TBBT episode. The first time I found myself yelling at the screen-" oh my God, oh my God,oh my God!" Just like the nerd me couldn't believe that Star Wars is here, the romantic in me never thought ShAmy would sleep together. The excitement for Star Wars was familiar. I wanted to see it. The amazement at ShAmy's intimacy was new. I didn't know if I could watch it. Normally I feel I can't wait to watch the next episode. Right now, it is taking a lot of effort to stop myself from re-watching this episode again and again.

TV Review: TBBT Season 9 Episode 10

Title: The Earworm Reverberation

The Gist: A tune is bugging Sheldon, like an ear-worm. He concludes he's descending into madness, but continues to search the song which he can't stop humming, playing on various instruments and with spoons and even gargling with drinking water. The search ends and a new, much awaited chapter begins.

Fun points:

A genius, Dr. Sheldon Cooper, who controls every aspect of his life, meets a girl, spends years with her and eventually falls in love. She leaves him. He tries to get back together but she has moved on. Time passes and they can finally be friends again. Now, she wants to get back together, but he thinks it best to stay friends. Maybe he will regain control of his life. Alas! love has changed the very core, and now the genius descends into madness... 

If the viewers ever wondered how a man so capable of containing his emotions would act like if love and heart-break happen to him, this episode masters the craft of portraying that.

1. A classic Sheldon act: he recognizes the opportunity in a weak moment too, and the scientist in him records logs as his days of doom approach. 
2. Love makes us all a better person. Yes! Sheldon not just understands but openly acknowledges importance of his best friend Leonard in his life. He even goes as far as informing his future self that Penny is to be adored: "If she gives any food, it's safe... and probably you (future Sheldon) have already paid for it". Just go watch any episode of any previous season and you see a changed man today.

In a parallel track, the viewers once again get to know a little more of Raj and Howard's band "Footprints on the Moon". These men journey from opening a Facebook fan page, stalking their fan, fantasizing like starlets and getting disgusted by reality. Assured comedy.