A Book: Adultery (Paulo Coelho)

Honestly, I don't know if I like the book or hate it. Perhaps a bit of both. I've never been a Paulo Coelho fan, but I kept that bias aside when I read Adultery, primarily because I had last read one of his books more than 10 years ago. I guess my mind has opened up since then.

 

If somebody can transform Geneva into a world of gloom and despair, he's got to have talent. There's this loving (and may I add, rich) couple with perfect jobs, perfect children, in a perfect city...to sum it up, a perfect world. There's peace, beauty, and the best quality of life you can possibly imagine. And what does too much perfection lead to? Monotony, dullness, boredom, void, loneliness - to name a few. It makes me think that the biggest problem in life is not having a problem. Too much peace can lead to unrest. You can go on with your life like clockwork; for how long though? And then, one day, you start questioning your mundane existence. It isn't exactly purposeless (come one, you have a job, and you are a parent!), but you will seek out for "something else" at some point of time. Or in this case, "someone else".

 

It's kind of obvious what the book is about. The protagonist seeks for the missing spark in her life, and the title of the book suggests how she tries to find it, among other things. But it's not just adultery. Driven by her ego and inspired by fictional characters like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Victor Frankenstein's monster, she attempts to defame her lover's wife in vain. Even adultery doesn't seem like her ultimate liberation from the shackles of depression. The paragliding bit at the end of the story is probably the actual thing (what, really?). Once she's there and back, she starts looking at her same old life in a new light, though I wonder for how long. I'm skeptical about eternal happiness, and I think it's unnatural. Which means she'll probably have an affair again. And her husband will be okay with it...again. Not fair! Some marriages work that way I guess. Some times, one person is more committed than the other. It wouldn't be entirely fair to blame her either. There's no real solution to her problem. I know that some people don't even think of it as a problem (I can hear them say,"So she's bored with life; that doesn't give her the right to have an extramarital affair. These are nothing but First World problems!").

 

There's some hope at the end of the story, though the ramble about love being the key to everything in life is just too cheesy (and this comes from a true romantic). The only time I might've welled up a little was when her husband came to know of her affair and said that he understood. And yes, the paragliding part was beautifully described, strange as it may sound. Like most of his books, this one delves into the depths of the thoughts and philosophies that lay hidden in the minds of mortals. Although adultery is the central theme here and it does linger around, this book is more about deconstructing an aspect of the average human's psyche. An easy read, it's simple and complicated at the same time, and quite real.

A Movie: Bombay Velvet (2015)

Bombay Velvet has glimpses of Tarantino's touch in multiple scenes (which is good), and also shares the lengthiness of his movies (which isn't the best thing). You have to really listen to every dialogue, and observe each scene if you are looking to tie up loose ends. Commendable performances except for the leading lady (thank goodness that she had few dialogues). Adored Raveena's cameo (they should've casted her instead of Anushka) and KJo's debut performance (he has presence). Lovely retro songs and background music, blending in with the perfect costumes and slightly sepia backdrop of the 60's Bombay. Typical gangster movie with a stale plot, but the rest of the elements make up for it. And Ranbir only keeps getting better!

A Movie: Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! (2015)

I haven't watched the serial on Doordarshan and I haven't read about this detective, so I don't really know him. I know Sherlock and Poirot, hence I cannot help but compare (a bit!). Byomkesh is neither eccentric like Sherlock, nor a perfectionist like Poirot. Then, what is he like? And the movie? Let's see.

To summarize the three principal elements of Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!:

• The protagonist/Sherlock/Byomkesh: No complaints about Sushant's performance, though the character could've been more interesting (see above). Honestly, I'm conflicted about this, because I think it is intentional - the portrayal of the detective as an ordinary next-door guy who prefers to lay low, and at the same time is passionate about what he does best, however amateurish. He's called "Bakshy babu", but I don't see too many "Bengali babu" traits in him. He is a good detective. But someone who stands out? I think not.
• The plot: I'd have preferred another level of suspense towards the end. In spite of being slightly predictable (if you observe carefully), I like the way the mystery unravels, from something seemingly small to a large conspiracy. It is gripping, and there's the red herring, the tingle of curiosity to find out what happens next, and the occasional adrenaline rush in the thrill of the chase. The fusion of facts (Calcutta, pre-independence) and fiction (the murder mystery) is handled well. The plot is dark, but could've been darker. A dab of humor wouldn't have hurt.
• The villain/Moriarty/He/She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named: This man/woman stands out, undoubtedly more than anyone else. He/She is multi-shaded, highly intelligent, menacing, and almost impossible to read. I have just one tiny concern with the authenticity of his/her looks, but I am willing to ignore it.

The retro backdrop and costumes are a perfectly flawless depiction of Calcutta in the 40's - Chinatown, the trams, the buildings, the sarees and dhotis, the food, and even the news. Thank heavens for no songs. And the background music? Kudos to the director for choosing independent artists to produce a completely off-beat OST, and yet in keeping with the theme of the movie! The ensemble cast is one of the best I have seen; every character is realistically distinct, and it feels like each of them has a life-story to tell - be it the faltering house-servant, the paan-chewing boarder, the nervous side-kick, or the ravishing femme fatale. The action sequence towards the end has a lasting impact on the audience, owing to the degree of violence and cinematography. There are moments that contain hints of inspiration from various Hollywood detective movies and books, but they are tastefully executed.

I'd highly recommend the movie. Indian cinema is evolving, and this is a genre which has very few good movies. You can see the hard work and research that must've gone into this one. It is something different. A very brave and honest attempt by Dibakar Banerjee. Visually pleasing, and something that bears a unique mark of its own.

A Book: I Too Had a Love Story (Ravinder Singh)

One star for Ravin's grief. Another for Khushi. Provided that it is a true story. But that's about it.

Cheesy Bollywood-y romance of the early 90's (with those "family values"), and the language skills of a 13-year old.

I'm not a fan of Chetan Bhagat, but after reading this book, I'll gladly declare him as my favorite author.

A Movie: Whiplash (2014)

One of those movies. It makes me wonder what the hell I'm doing with my life, when there are folks out there, willing to destroy themselves for their passion. Maybe that's all they have - one dream to give meaning to their otherwise mundane existence. But it is worth having such people among us, isn't it? They define a whole new level of brilliance, something that's above everything we've witnessed. And the manner in which they achieve such heights isn't always conventional. Or acceptable.

Meet Andrew Neiman, a student jazz drummer who travels a road that very few people would have the audacity to walk, and make it to the destination. As for his teacher Terence Fletcher, he is either the best or the worst guide for this journey. You'll be in conflict with yourself about this man and his methods, till the very end. Till the last drumbeat. One thing you'll know for sure - J.K. Simmons deserves an Oscar for this role.

Whiplash - a psychological drama revolving around music, and when you hear the word "music", don't be tricked. It's hardly pleasant, but if you have a taste for good cinema, this is it.

A Movie: Hawaizaada (2015)

An inventor does not invent to reconcile with his lady love, to bring about social reforms, or for his country's independence. He invents in spite of, and irrespective of these elements. And that's what the movie lacked.

Hawaizaada could've been a masterpiece - fresh music, good lead actors, and a never-before-seen-in-Bollywood plot. But it ended up being a "khichdi" of themes, accompanied by a lavish European-Indian movie set, which was beautiful, but unnecessary. I understand that the movie isn't a biography, and that the director attempted to give it a fairytale-like feel, but the fusion of facts with fantasy wasn't smooth enough. Even in a fantasy world, I do not understand how a poor outcast like Shivkar managed such intricate designs on his invention. The movie was a bit too lengthy, and the chanting of "Vande Mataram" slogans towards the end was a force-fit, while the protagonist showed little signs of patriotism throughout the rest of the story. His minute-long speech about how India was still in chains due to its social issues like mistreatment of widows - another force-fit, and totally out of context.

Shivkar Bapuji Talpade deserved a better introduction. I would've liked to see glimpses of his genius in the beginning, instead of wondering how a loser like him could've even come close to doing something great, and waiting for Shashtri ji to unveil it for me. I also expected some more Vedic references, given that he was a Vedic scholar.

Oh, and yes, Bollywood film-makers cannot help but attribute everything to a love story, and add a dramatic ending - both of which I could do without.

Mithun's performance is like the winter sun - full of warmth, and just the right amount. Ayushmann remains true to his character, though some scenes were overdramatized. Naman is a flawlessly cute and geeky kid. If not for anything else, you must watch the movie for these three actors. The rest of the acting crew did just okay.

Overall, a feel-good movie, but I'd have preferred a simple script, which remained as true to the facts as Bollywood-ism would've permitted. Nevertheless, the movie enlightened me about something and somebody every Indian should know. We need more movies like this. A salute for the efforts.

A Book: The Boy in Striped Pyjamas (John Boyne)

This is a book I couldn't help but finish in a day. Innocence ripples in its entirety. In spite of being a third-person narrative, the intentional repetition of childish phrases, misspellings and mispronunciations feel as though the story's been penned by a child. Such a horrifying tragedy from the eyes of such an uncorrupted mind cannot be described in words. Bruno, my heart goes out to you!