Life’s too short to miss out anything, try to take it slowly ;)

Since the pandemic has started, screen time has increased for everyone.

I am a movie fan and like to watch all kinds of movies, even if it is of foreign language I enjoy the story, and why not after all people are all same around the world even if they speak different language - they all have a story.

Every time I watch a foreign language movie, I remind myself I come from a country that has more than one language which is almost foreign for many.

Marathi language being my favorite, even though I was not raised as a Maharashtrian but growing up in a cultural city Pune which is blessed with craft, poetry, musical drama and literature, has had some impact on me too. I still remember watching Gajra - which had short story drama, Chimanrao - funny yet with morale at the end of each episode, Amchi Mati Amchi Manasa - it was more with the farming and farmers related but it also had entertainment skit and musical dramas, Kilbil - such many programs have enlightened and educated me about Marathi literature, arts, dance, drama, and Music through television which was one of the great entertainment device that we had in those days. 

"A different language is a different vision of life" ~ Federico Fellini

During this long weekend, when 'stay at home' is enforced as the number of cases in my county is increasing, watching movies and web-series is the new hobby besides hiking and spending time with Mother Nature.

Cycle is a light hearted simple family movie. The best part of watching movie is when you know the actors already (which means you have seen their work in other movies) and some which you only get to know them through the movie - either way its an amazing experience to know them though their characters and I have great admiration for the main character in this movie - Hrishikesh Joshi as Keshav who is very possessive of his bicycle which he got from his great grandfather. Of course the story is around the bicycle and Keshav but with this simple story also there is a great learning at the end. 

I felt these days we need such simple story of human live, the human behavior and the learning out of it. Keshav's journey teaches us that we shouldn't be so attached to worldly things and in doing so he finds real joy in life.

"Nature is pleased with simplicity. And nature is no dummy" ~ Isaac Newton

I loved this movie for its simplicity and the great learning about being minimalistic and yet be content and happy. This movie was screened during Cannes film festival in 2017. The movie has English subtitles and one will definitely enjoy this beautiful small village which is beautifully captured by Amalendu Chaudhary with is camera.

A sneak peak through this trailer could also help:

Cycle Trailer

Another one that I would like to share is about another Marathi movie - Firebrand. A movie written and directed by Aruna Raje - a well known in the industry with her talent but this movie is her come back after 15 years gap. 

This movie is a contemporary story of self- discovery and Usha Jadhav, a feminist divorce lawyer who is helping women suffering from domestic violence, rape, mental illness by fighting for their rights and giving justice to them in the court.

However she also has a life and her own relationship and trauma of life. This movie is a must watch for everyone as one can learn a lot about relationships, marriage, sex and love. This movie actually talks about things very openly and in a very well manner so that two individuals whether they are husband and wife or man and woman things can be discussed.

This movie teaches us how to not hold on to the past so much that it affects your present. Let it go, and let live the moment. A movie released in 2019.

"Learn to let go and be clear of where you really want to head for"

I loved the characters Usha Jadhav, Girish Kulkarni, and Sachin Khedekar played in the movie. Sachin Khedekar's movies and tv series I have watched before and I love his work. However, Usha Jadhav and Girish Kulkarni came out very strong and very much capturing performance. I have seen Girish Kulkarni in other movies but I guess he has not been given as main character in others that I have watched.

A sneak peak into this one Firebrand Trailer

Two movies that I watched this weekend and it has left an impact on me and kept me thinking about the movie. So definitely recommend this one to my readers, do watch!!!!

Enjoy the rest of the week and stay safe!!!

~ Dawn

Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable ~ Mary Oliver

 When we all welcomed the year 2020, we had no clue as what is the future of 2020 that is stored for all of us. Did we?

May be here and there the news of COVID-19 was there but no one took it seriously. I remember I was traveling back to USA after my vacation and as I was transiting via HongKong I started noticing people wearing mask and I kind of got curious and worried. 

By the time it was February end, rumors started in the office about working remotely for few days and for a person like me who is a people person, I thought it will be a short period of time and hence never bothered to collect anything much from my office desk.

"2020 is a unique Leap Year. It has 29 days in February, 300 days in March, and five years in April" ~ Unknown 😀

March we were told to work from home and then it became the new normal for all of us. Though, it took a while for everyone to get adjusted because I was taking my calls from my reclining chair though every morning I was getting up and dressing up as if I am going to office, except that I was sitting on the reclining chair and taking my calls. Few days was kind of fun as everyone is close by in the family. The much loved house bought in 2008, I was only now able to spend time fully to enjoy by spending time in the backyard, looking at the mountains from every room that I have in the house - it was a feeling that of a child getting holiday on a school day. 

Slowly the calendar started flipping, work started getting intense and deployment and releases started happening. A point came when there were happy hours on zoom I had to decline saying I need to step out of my zoom. Slowly I had to bring a working desk that can be raised up and down so I can stand and sit in between my work during the day.

Some workout planning inside the house and a daily walk in the neighborhood since the restrictions in my county got induced my walk near the creek got restricted too. 

"After all the stupid things I have done in my life, If I die because I touched my face, I am gonna be pissed." ~ Unknown 😱

Every possible adjustments were done to make sure during this pandemic time we stay healthy mentally, physically and emotionally as well - it was a very conscious decision that let us plan our day to day life. One thing is clear, if time comes there is nothing that we cannot adjust to. But I can only say that we are privileged and not everyone is. 

There might be people who must be living in an apartment where stay at home can make you go crazy and on top of that domestic violence or even the mental health issues all these could come as a drastic challenge and I often thought of those who I know are in that situation. I have tried to reach out and talk and similarly caring for your neighbors, while going to the grocery store making sure they have everything or if anything to be bought for them. This 2020 year was a testing period for everyone though it came as a surprise.

A time came when celebrations were with family but we exchanged sweets and cookeries with neighbors and loved ones that we could. A glimpse of happiness let us survive the year and 2021 came with a hope.

"2020 is the strictest parent I ever had" ~ Unknown

A hope there will be a vaccine came in as true and its so amazing to hear when the forefront workers are getting these vaccines, our senior citizens getting them too make it more to look forward.

My New Year came in with lot of changes, I got into a new role with a new team though same company but it is so exciting to look forward to a change. 

"Look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now' ~ Hamilton 🙏

As a family I think we loved the time that we spend with each other. The lessons learned during this time is for a life time and believe me we all who have survived this 'new normal' will still be there. 

The new year eve was something that I was not very excited and what to do just stay at home but as the night started unfolding I called my parents wished them and it was more to look forward. A hope that I will get to travel to see them this year. That one hope gives you immense energy and enthusiasm to look forward month after month and with the new role and working with some energetic techies in the team life is adding more colors to it.

It is the new normal way of living even though we have the vaccine available which will slowly reach to everyone yet, this is the new normal and we will have to get used to our mask and sanitizers. But I am sure it will be good if we can travel with all these.

A hope is something we must carry with us along with our masks and sanitizers.

"We either make ourselves miserable or make ourselves strong. The amount of work is same." ~ Carlos Castaneda 

Happy 2021 to all my readers!!!!

~ Dawn