Adios Amigo!

When I started my blogging journey 6 years ago (yes, I started blogging in 2020!), little did I imagine that my writings would create such a huge impact with people across diverse age groups. They were reading and resonating with my thoughts, alongside offering holistic advice and new perspectives. There were healthy banters in the comment section, and a positive space was fostered where all kinds of opinions were open and up for discussion.

For me blogging has been a roller coaster ride to say the least- there were months where I didn't write anything at all and months where I gave it all in. The months I didn't write was due to two main reasons, one- I was very choosy. I felt each blog I write has to be good with respect to the kind of topic I pick and the way it is articulated. I didn't want to write on topics that I felt were too simple or didn't carry depth. There are so many blogs that I started writing but never published them because I felt it wasn't my best work.

The second reason were my exams. Whenever anything really hectic came up professionally, the first thing I stopped giving time to was my writing. I used to tell myself, 'Let me complete this work and then I'll come and write', but then as work increased, deadlines got tighter, I stopped devoting time to the writer side of me. I did somehow take time and write, but then the waiting time between each blog started getting longer every time.

As time progressed and I started growing older and a little wiser, one thing I realised is that blogs don't necessarily have to always be deep and motivational. It can just be you sharing experiences from your life- however simple it might be. It is not the depth of the situation you faced, but it is the sincerity and honesty with which you convey your emotion to your readers. It doesn't have to be those big, dramatic moments- even the smallest moments end up giving you a lifetime lesson. It all comes down to how you are able to convey it convincingly to your readers- this done right makes blogs memorable.

With this understanding, I started viewing my blogspot differently. I didn't treat it as just a place to motivate people through moving stories and perspectives, but to share daily insights with small learnings in a relatable manner. I started exploring diverse topics and with this approach I could broaden my horizon and understanding of topics.

When I started writing, I was really apprehensive about presenting my take on sensitive topics. I was worried that people might dismiss my honest opinion because I was a novice writer - so I wrote about both sides and gave a neutral conclusion to such topics.

Gradually as I progressed in my blogging journey, the biggest learning I got was it is not possible to satisfy everyone- there will always be people who will not like my opinion. Keeping people's opinions in mind as a base and curtailing or changing my form of expression won't let me present my authentic self to the world. I would end up presenting a filtered version just to appease the popular opinion.

Two mutually contrasting opinions can peacefully co-exist. What is important is to present our viewpoint without disturbing that balance. It is fine to take an unconventional stand as long as we are conveying that in a matured and convincing manner. 

Over these 6 years of my blogging journey, I've evolved a lot- both as a person and as a writer. I started picking nuanced topics to write, I became more confident in my writing and didn't shy away from using my blogs as a platform to take a strong stand. These 6 years have shaped me into a stronger, wiser and a better individual with a deeper sense of understanding. I learnt to differentiate between constructive criticism and sheer hate. I also learnt how to effectively take feedback on my style of writing and implement it in my subsequent blogs.

All this has now propelled me to take the next step in my writing journey. Starting this weekend, I'm going to be moving my writings to a new platform- Substack. This platform would offer me a lot more than just blogs and pages- I can diversify into podcasts, audio, video, notes, articles, posts, live and a lot more. I feel that now I am at a right place to make this transition as I've gotten so many learnings from this platform that I can perfectly put to use in the new platform of mine.

Not just Substack, I would also be creating a public Instagram account for content creation. While I would majorly be posting my writings on Substack, this instagram public account is for showcasing my other skills- singing, short reels, and maybe, even dance too :)

6 years is too long of a time on a platform and honestly, it leaves me with a heavy heart that I would be bidding goodbye to this platform that built me from scratch from next week and would be completely transitioning to a newer version of me. Well, the only thing constant in life is change and this change is necessary in order to grow and become a much better version of myself.

To my readers who supported me throughout my blogging journey and have seen me grow from scratch- thank you so much for being a constant source of support. I hope you would continue to extend that support for both my Substack and Instagram content creation journey as well.

Last but not the least, the 'Writer's desk' is always open. The desk has just switched places, but the writings will continue to come from the desk.

                  - Anusha Sridhar

(P.S I have a couple of unpublished blogs that are lying in my drafts. To my readers, do you think I need to publish them here once a week? Would you like to read them? Do let me know.)

The Mahavatar maha-saga

On a busy and boring weekday, my mom and I had planned to watch a movie together. We had a lot of options lined up- Saiyyara, Kingdom, Hari Hara Veera Mallu, but then we ended up booking tickets for the film Mahavatar Narasimha. We heard about this film through positive word of mouth and decided to watch it. 

At the start of the film, I had a few apprehensions. Since this is originally a Kannada film and was dubbed in Telugu, I was concerned the dubbing and the lip-sync of the animation wouldn't do justice to the original. However, those doubts were put to rest in the opening minutes thanks to the flawless execution. 

The first thing that blew my mind was the fact that an animated movie could impact me so much- the film made me cry at a few portions, gave me goosebumps in the fight sequences and for a few of these sequences, my hands automatically folded into prayer as a form of reverence. I was deeply moved by the way Prahlad's pure and unmatched devotion towards Lord Vishnu was captured by the makers and my heart rooted for him. Anything Prahlad felt, I could feel it too. Certain portions of the film involving conversations between Prahlad and Lord Vishnu deeply hit- it felt as though Lord Vishnu (Narasimha) was addressing me. The depictions of all the characters in the film were spot on and the placement of songs at the right places complemented the storyline well.

It is really difficult to convince the audience in an animated film- especially if it is a devotional film. There are a lot of possibilities of things going wrong- cultural misrepresentation, improper characterisation, artifical set-pieces, etc. For a film that is the first in a most-anticipated cinematic universe, hitting the right chord without overdoing anything is extremely important. This film lays the foundation for the future lineup of this universe- which spans the next 12 years- so getting it right is crucial for everyone involved.

This film translating into the big screen effectively and capturing the audience's attention would mean that we as an audience would get to see more beautiful portrayals of Lord Vishnu's avatars in the years to come. Just like Marvel Cinematic Universe, we would get our own Mahavatar Cinematic Universe, boldly Indian, rooted in our culture and presented in a way that appeals the young audience.

The good news is that the film clicked- people who've watched it are raving about it- the film has got the highest ratings in BookMyShow. The dream to have a universe that is truly ours is finally going to manifest in the best form possible and I am absolutely elated and excited.

One major thing that elevated my viewer experience was the audience. For all the high moments of the film, the audience cheered, prayed, cried and in the end, they even gave a 2 min applause too. All of this didn't make me feel like I was watching a film in a multiplex, it felt like I was watching a film in a single screen.
This single screen movie experience felt like a multiscreen experience only while having our food- the food was costlier than our ticket price. 

All in all, this film is beautifully taken. It is a handwoven artistic animation masterpiece. In case you've missed watching it and are waiting for the film to be released on OTT, I would say- don't wait till the OTT release. This movie needs to be experienced in 3D on the big screen in order to feel its true impact- watching it at home won't do justice to the grandeur and finesse of this film. So don't wait, grab your tickets and watch this film at your nearest theatres because once you are done watching it, you will be proud about this film and won't regret investing your time on it.

                                      

                                         - Anusha Sridhar

A tribute to one year

Presenting to all of you a poem that I'd written reminiscing about my one-year leadership journey in Toastmasters.....do read and share your thoughts.

How did one year pass so fast?

It gave us lots of memories to last.

We worked with hearts filled with passion and minds so keen.

Oh! What a journey this has been. 

We came together to achieve a common dream.

We've seen ups and downs together 

and braved them like a team.

We had to take calculated risks

for which we planned and strategised.

We put our best foot forward for every opportunity that was utilised.

This team was more than a team.

This was family.

This was a safe space

that always had your back.

Even though they were running their own individual race.

In the course of this journey, we became mature.

We laughed, smiled and got wise.

But instead of happiness, why are there tears in my eyes?

This journey is unforgettable.

It has transformed me from a drop to an endless sea.

It has made me harder.

It has made me smarter.

It has done so much to me, that it is difficult to even describe this chapter.

I am stepping out with a filled and content heart.

This has become an integral part, so much so, that it can never be apart.

This is a rollercoaster ride.

This is a chapter in my life that I would look back with pride.

I bid farewell to this beautiful journey with one last goodbye.

And a promise to myself

that once this ends

I won't cry.

This is not the end, this is the beginning.

A beginning to more such heartwarming memories and stories.

So, brace yourself for more.

Because you never really know what life has in store.

-Anusha Sridhar

The new trend

On a regular evening as I was scrolling through Instagram, I saw a few images that popped up on my feed. They were neither celebrities' paparazzi shots nor clickbait trend images. They were Ghibli art images. I was seeing these kinds of images for the very first time and I was truly fascinated. 

Before my mind could comprehend the trend and decipher as to how these Ghibli images were being made, my Instagram was flooded with loads of these images. Whichever account I opened- either a celebrity's or a friend's account- everyone was dabbling in this newfound trend of 'Ghibli art images' and I remained a mere spectator to all the buzz surrounding it.

What is this Ghibli art? It is a distinctive visual style that is associated with Studio Ghibli- an animation studio- based out of Japan. The craze for Ghibli art is really high due to the expressive characters, vivid backgrounds and the colour palette used, but most importantly, people started loving it so much due to how aesthetically it transforms their facial contour.  In fact, the trend became so popular that Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, started requesting people not to put too much load on the servers as their software was not able to keep up with the excessive demand. Little did he realise that a harmless trend of generating Ghibli images would spread like wildfire across the globe creating record-breaking engagement.

After a few days, I too managed to hop on to the trend by creating 'Ghiblified' images of mine which managed to garner a lot of attention. 😁

In the midst of all this newfound excitement of generating beautiful images, I stumbled across an article that spoke about one of the original creators- Hayao Miyazaki- and his opinions on Ghibli art. While reading this, there were two lines that caught my attention: 'the use of AI to generate animation is an insult to life itself' and 'hand-drawn animation is the only way to breathe life to a character.' 

While I was slowly trying to read and wrap myself around this new discourse surrounding Ghibli art, I saw that the netizens were in a frenzy and divided into two halves. One half was busy making Ghibli edits and cashing in on the latest trend, while the other was discussing about data security, how privacy is a myth and how the Ghibli trend doesn't credit the original artist.  

In the midst of all this chaos regarding whether Ghibli edits should be made or not, something called as 'reverse Ghibli art' started trending. How does this work? You upload an image of yours and convert it to Ghibli. Once that is done, you ask AI to add another person (based on the description of yours) in the Ghibli image it generated. Then, convert that image back to normal. Once you finish all these steps, you can see the face of a real person AI adds to your picture.

Maybe AI has one staple real face each for a man and a woman that it will generate when you do the reverse ghibli, but this raised a lot of flak from people. Concerns of data privacy and ethics came back to the picture- how safe is our data? Aren't we going too far by consensually giving AI firsthand access to our personal pictures? By doing that, won't our data be vulnerable to all sorts of attacks and misuse? How far is it correct to give access to our data despite knowing the risks associated with it? With all these questions, the trend became the subject of all sorts of scrutiny and dissection from people.

In this situation, there are two stances that you can take. Either don't upload any image of yours and don't participate in any trend due to data privacy concerns. But if you are participating in the trend, you will have to upload your images in order to generate your personalised Ghibli image.
If you are going with the second option, you are giving AI access to your pictures, so make sure you don't share sensitive pictures- but again, not sure if this will guarantee you complete protection, so be cautious.

Every situation has its own pros and cons. We can do two things- either avoid taking any kind of risk or take calculated risks. The choice between the two is something we have to take based on the way we perceive the current situation and our own thought process.

One last thing that I would like to mention here is- AI is not originally creating these images using its brain. AI is not a human- it is developed by humans. If AI is able to generate these Ghibli art images, it is because Mr.Miyazaki and his team worked really hard to create hand-woven animation in Ghibli style. Let us respect that and give credit whenever we are using this. Not only now, but in any situation for that matter, let us give credit to the original artist because if it weren't for that person, we wouldn't be having everything on our fingertips.

Whichever side you pick- whether you are pro-Ghibli art or anti-Ghibli art, we are defined by the kind of choices we make. Nobody is going to judge you for participating/not participating in a trend. Maybe by not participating you might experience FOMO, but again it is a consensual choice that you have to make.

Which side are you all on? Do you want to generate Ghibli images or are you against it? Let me know your views in the comments.

                                                           - Anusha Sridhar

 

Let's talk about work life balance

The comments made by the L&T Chairman Mr. Subramanyam about work-life balance has sparked a rage on the internet. On one end there are fiery debates made about the way work-life balance is treated in India and on the other end, netizens are digging out some controversial statements made by business legends in the past on this. Some are happy that finally there is a discourse on a topic that is mostly brushed under the carpet, while some have used this incident as an opportunity to vent about the toxic work culture in their organization.

What is this work-life balance all about? In simple terms, work-life balance refers to the concept of allocating sufficient amount of time to professional and personal commitments without getting mentally drained. It refers to the aspect of drawing a healthy line between work and life without letting the former overwhelm us.

You might ask why this concept of work life balance has come into the picture now and not a few years ago. The answer to this lies in the three aspects of change that have taken place in the work culture. 

The first aspect is the nature of work. In the past, work was restrained to the boundaries of work timings and had no scope of entering our personal space. But today, our lives have become more digitally intertwined which led to work taking out maximum of our personal time. 

The second aspect is the commuting time and the modes of commuting to the workplace. Previously, it was easier to travel long distances due to lack of congestion on the roads. The environment was supportive too. But now, due to bad roads, rampant increase in traffic and roadblocks, the to and fro is getting really exhausting. Due to this, a person is not able to focus on anything else once they are back home. 

The third aspect is the expansion and diversification of work. Today, companies across the globe partner with each other to produce innovative solutions by leveraging each other's expertise to the maximum. In order to achieve this, employees have to interact with clients across the globe- with clients living at different time zones. This has led to a major disruption in the sleep cycle of these employees and is taking a toll on their health.

Due to these significant changes in the work culture, the concept of work-life balance came into picture- to ensure that we are not getting burnt out and are utilizing our potential to the fullest.

Work-life balance has revolutionized the world with countries passing laws to ensure that employee rights are protected. Right to disconnect, fixed work schedules and pay for overtime have made work environments less toxic and have cultivated a positive environment. But sadly, this isn't the case in India as none of these provisions are available.

We Indians somehow have built this mindset that greater number of hours we put into a task, the better we are performing it. We are valued as an asset to our company when we work for long hours beyond our office timings and are looked down when we leave early. The key logic that a lot of companies are missing here is the fact that it is always quality over quantity and not the other way round. We might end up spending hours trying to resolve a simple problem whenever we are exhausted because our brain can't function to its full capacity after a certain period of time. We need to give it a break to refresh and unwind. The lack of this time is leading to an unhealthy work life. We end up working for hours together with no real progress.

When a study was done on how work-life balance is treated in India, the facts that emerged were shocking. Indian employees work for 48-50 hours a week, and 83% Indian employees have experienced burnout in their workplace. This is far higher in comparison to other countries and these statistics are pretty concerning. While other countries are looking to reduce 5-day work week to a 4-day work week, our country's businessmen are looking at increasing 5 days to 6-day work week and 6 days to 7-day work week which is absolutely unhealthy.

Does that mean achieving work life balance in India is absolutely impossible? Well, things are not going to change until there is a change at the top level. Mr. Anand Mahindra had mentioned in one of his recent interactions that whenever top businessmen talk about bringing reforms, let it start from a top-down approach instead of a bottom-top approach. When these individuals actually work for long durations under the conditions normal people are facing and achieve the required output, only then should it be implemented in companies. As of now, only time will tell whether the Indian conglomerates are going to implement this top-down approach and make their employees life easier.

Can't we do anything from our end to make things better? The first most important thing to do is to start saying NO if you aren't available. A lot of times we end up doing things way beyond our requirement when it is not necessary. We should draw our lines and firmly stick to them. We might feel bad initially for doing that, but in such scenarios, remember that you are doing it for your sanity.

Work-life balance is a pretty sensitive concept, and you can't pigeonhole it. For different people this term means different things. The employees might give paramount importance to quality time with family, their personal interests and hobbies. The business tycoons might give paramount importance to working because of the lump amounts of profits they earn. The problem arises when these tycoons pressure employees to work overtime under the guise of "more work, more output" and "contributing to the nation's growth," forcing them to prioritize company goals over their own. This leads to poor work-life balance.

A lot of these hi-fi individuals live under this assumption that there is no such concept of work-life balance because when you love the work that you do, it becomes your life, and you don't have to balance it. You will just go with the flow without any complaints. I feel this is a flawed way of looking at it because not everyone likes their work, and they have to do it because of some compulsion or commitments. Even if someone does like their work a lot, they too won't like to sit on the same task for the whole day without a break since it leads to monotony. This monotony will slowly lead to boredom since there is no novelty and this slowly leads to losing interest in work. 

A lot of times, one starts to presume that work-life balance simply means making the work environment better and more efficient, allowing it to take center stage. But remember this: work-life balance is about improving one's life outside the work environment—through travel, personal growth, etc.—in a way that prevents exhaustion. One’s life should always take precedence, with work being just one part of it. Never let work rob you of the serenity that defines your life.

                        - Anusha Sridhar

The Dining Debacle

One evening my mom and I had gone to a five-star restaurant to kickstart our weekend with a bang. We were visiting this restaurant for the very first time and had zeroed in on this place after hearing a lot of reviews raving about the food, its quality and the ambience of the dining area. We were excited to see how the evening would unfold and were eager to experience the flavour of various cuisines enriching our tastebuds.

This restaurant made a strong statement in the initial minutes itself as to why it was called a signature place. There was a decorative ambient light set up on each table whose colour could be customised based on the mood. This increased our expectation multifold. We looked at the offerings of the day in the menu, placed our order and were waiting with bated breaths to receive our food.

After a wait for 20-25 mins, the food- which btw, looked absolutely delicious- arrived. The aroma filled our nostrils, and we were ready to savour the food. My mom and I took a bite of one of the items and after tasting it, we immediately looked into each other's eyes. We realised, it was not our mouths that were watering craving for more, but our eyes that were watering due to the 'distasteful taste' and the exorbitant amount of money paid for it. We somehow finished half the portion of whatever we had ordered, paid the bill, and left home. 

This was the story of our Dining Debacle in full glory.

This incident reminded me of one of the most intricate and interesting debates in today's time-'Place value Vs Taste value'. I call this debate an intricate one as it helps us understand the complex and innate human emotions on the basis of the choices people make. The watershed moment in this debate is the choice of picking the restaurant to dine-in. Some of them put their social status first before their own taste buds, while some put taste first over the place they are dining in. This forms the baseline for the argument.

To understand this conundrum better, consider this. You prefer taste over the place. Would you like to eat in an unhygienic place even though you know that the food there tastes really good? This pushes you into a predicament, and you think of switching sides. But will this switch guarantee you the best output? We have this common misconception that greater the money involved, better would be the quality. Is this completely true? Not really.

Food costs are really high not only because of the quality, but the additional expenditure these restaurant giants incur in order to satisfy the needs of their high-level customers. This means, that the entire amount you are paying is not solely for the quality and safety of the food but is also for the logistics that the restaurant has to put in to maintain the place.

At this point you must be in two minds wondering if there is no end to this debate. The deeper we dig into each argument, the more convincing it starts to sound. What is the final verdict? Is there no way we all can arrive at a conclusive closure?

To offer a resolution for this debate, the first thing that all of us should be doing is to decide if we prefer food over taste or vice versa. This will help us make more efficient food choices and avoid mistakes as we would be visiting places that align with our interests. Maybe if the food served while you are a customer at a place is bad because the restaurant didn't have a good day, you still won't crib about the cost as you willingly signed up for it. 

Now comes the next thing- what if you willingly didn't sign up for visiting a place and just went by whatever you heard? If that is the case, the best approach would be TRUST your sources but VERIFY before going. In our case, we just saw Google reviews and decided that the restaurant would be the best for us. Had we spoken to any of our foodie family members/friends to see if the taste would cater to our food liking, we could've avoided the situation.

The more I ponder regarding the reason for dislike of food there, the more complicated the arguments get. Every idea sounds equally convincing and deciding what must've been the reason behind the Dining Debacle gets crazier. There is another theory as well in my mind while writing this: maybe I was so used to eating food at local street shops and small restaurants that I didn't even have the appetite for the food eaten by elites! (LOL)

I rest my case here by mentioning this: Place value vs Taste value is a never-ending debate, and each person has their own reasons for picking one side. Despite following all the steps, you might still end up in a Dining Debacle if the stars are not aligned properly. What is important here, is for you to identify what kind of a person you are, which would thereby enable you to make informed choices. 

Finally, remember, you eat to live and not live to eat, so don't let one bad experience completely tarnish your image about a certain place. Look for alternatives, keep exploring and whenever you experience a Dining Debacle, remember there is always a next food joint/eatery that you can explore to keep your taste buds high!

      - Anusha Sridhar

(P.S Have you experienced any Dinner Debacles in the recent times?)

The T20 delight

 The 17-year wait has finally come to an end. India brings the World Cup home with a stunning victory against South Africa. All the players in the squad performed their respective roles with finesse ensuring that the long-awaited dream becomes a reality. The match wasn't a one-sided one. There were so many game-changing moments and awesome cricket that we got to witness. The number of twists and turns in the game made all the Indian fans glued to their TV screens watching with bated breaths, fingers crossed, and eyes brimming with thin line of hope of crossing the final endeavor. Victory in yesterday's match was such a heart-warming moment as it allowed us fans to finally come out of the heartbreak of the World cup loss against Australia last November. 

Many sentimental fans (like me) were really tensed about yesterday's match as we were getting flashbacks and drawing parallels with the ODI World Cup. The two scenarios were eerily similar- an undefeated streak in the league matches which led to a heartbreaking loss in the final game. Somewhere we were scared where history might repeat, but thanks to an overall team effort- IT DID NOT. 

The best part of T20 was the bromance of Rohit and Virat was on top throughout all the league games. The efforts of the bowlers too were top notch and that helped us defend low scores too. This T20 campaign was a collective effort which led to a well-deserved win. Watching the way Rohit collected the trophy and Rahul Dravid getting his due after so many years made everyone elated and emotional too.

This victory has given Hardik Pandya one of his biggest comebacks ever. From being trolled on getting appointed as the MI captain, to being booed by fans in his own home ground, to unwanted rumors- everything took a major toll on his mental health. Seeing him give a fitting comeback to all the haters in style and expressing his happy tears made everyone proud of him. Along with Hardik, even Virat Kohli was criticized a lot for his form in the league matches but he too answered in style with his bat on the D-day. 

What surprises me sometimes is the nature of Indian cricket fans. During IPL it is 'Rohit Vs Kohli' but when it comes to international matches as team India, it becomes 'Ro & Ko', 'RohiRat' and many other such names. How fast the night changes!

Maybe this proves that during IPL season we are all divided as teams, individual players and laurels, but when it comes to the national team, everyone becomes one and cheers the loudest.

Wishing hearty congratulations to team India and eagerly waiting to watch more such classy cricket! The fact that both the stalwarts of the game Rohit and Virat are retiring from the format definitely has left a void in our heart but as they say: 'endings are new beginnings', looking forward to a new era of cricket with the youngsters carrying forward the legacy of both these players. The shoes to fill in are big, but I am sure that with the quality of cricket, respect and dedication they put into the game, they will definitely be able to shine and take Indian cricket to greater heights.

Once again congratulations team India! We will continue to stand by your side as your loyal fans. 😊

                                                   - Anusha Sridhar

My first time

May 10th, 2024. 

The D-day.

The day when my biggest dream came true.

The day when I got my right to exercise my power of being a part of a democratic country.

The day when I got my "RIGHT TO VOTE."

I have been an ardent follower of Indian politics and throughout my 19 years of life, I've gotten to read and witness the different ideologies of political parties, the way matters of the country are looked at and the way things are rapidly changing due to surge of AI. (iykyk)

It has been quite an interesting phase for me as I've gotten to see both sides of the coin- how through the passage of time certain great leaders evolved and sustained due to wise decisions while a few completely withered away. The wide spectrum of people with diverse thoughts that we get to witness in Indian politics is truly fascinating!

They say democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The USP of a democratic nation lies in the fact that people are the choosers. The drawback? People are the choosers.

The citizens of the country have the right to either give power to someone or to completely strip them off it. With great power comes great responsibility and with a responsibility as big as that of electing someone who would be in power for 5 years, lots of caution needs to be exercised before casting a vote. There needs to be lots of thinking, analyzing and understanding as to what the best option for our country's progress would be. Is the same amount of effort being put in by each and every voter in this country? Sadly, the answer is no.

Despite having a country with the youth constituting the major population, it is disheartening to see such a small percentage of voter turnout during elections. It is even more disheartening to see all the educated people taking a backseat and not casting their vote. Since most of the times we have elections conducted during the weekends and with the election day being a holiday, people are prioritizing their personal work over any other activities, thus sabotaging the country's future. 

Every election is dependent on the people who show up. Every vote counts. Please vote for the person whom you think will bring a fresh approach to the table to tackle the current set of problems being faced. Please don't come under the influence of external factors and vote irrationally. Take your responsibility seriously and be the change you wish to see.

As a first-time voter, I will be casting my vote on the 13th of May and exercise my most important right and take part in this privilege of being a citizen of a democratic country. What about you?

JAI HIND!!

                        - Anusha Sridhar

Family time....Family star

On a bright and sunny Ugadi morning, my mom and I decided to spend the day together by watching a movie in a theatre. After a lot of deliberation and thought, we zeroed in on the movie 'The Family Star'. We stepped into the theatre with a lot of anticipation and excitement, but little did we expect the turn things would take. 

For the very first time we were in a theatre with less than 20 people. There weren't many hoots and claps like how it happens for a regular commercial film. There were minimal reactions to all the humor and elevations given to the main lead. Honestly, we had a satisfactory experience, and the songs too were ringing in our heads. Did everyone else have the same experience as us? Apparently, no.

It seems a lot of people didn't like the film because they felt it carried the same old trope of commercial films and had certain unnecessary sequences which didn't elevate the film but instead downplayed its content.  

This response from people caught me off guard. A star like Vijay Devarakonda struggling to pull the audience to theatres despite having a storyline that can easily connect to all the middle-class people? Of course, I agree there are exaggerations that could have been chopped down from the runtime to make it a crisper film but discarding the film on a whole due to certain preconceived notions and half-baked statements? That is a big no.

I was watching few videos on the internet where people were giving their reactions and reviews about the movie. Few of them sounded rational with their viewpoint, but a few of them went too personal- bringing in their own equation with the actor into the picture.

I feel a lot of times actors are judged as a whole on the basis of the kind of scripts they select and the way they are presented on screen. What we fail to realise is that the actor is just playing the character and the character is not the person himself. VD was someone who got type-casted into a certain set of roles after Arjun Reddy. The audience felt he always tried to carry himself as per his popular reel life character. 

If you don't like the movie in terms of a movie perspective, then you have the right to point out flaws. But when you look at a movie not in terms of its storyline and technical intricacies, but with a tainted perspective- bringing in personal lives and remarks made by the actor at some point into the equation, I don't think it is fair. A movie is not only the actor's hardwork, but there are a lot of people involved behind the scenes whose contributions don't come into light. Just because we have a bad precedent about the main lead doesn't mean we start scrutinizing everything in the movie and going into the theatre with a mindset to bash the film no matter what message or idea it conveys in the end.

I personally felt the movie had a great premise and accurately depicted the problems faced by an Indian middle-class family. Just like how no movie is perfect in totality, this one too has few flaws and logical discrepancies. But on the whole it gave us such a good vibe and hard-hitting facts to ponder upon. 

On the whole, I would just like to say one thing. If you want to have a hearty laugh in the theatre and understand the importance of having a good family, don't miss the film and watch it at the nearest theatres!

                    - Anusha Sridhar

The historic moment

The 'prana prathista' ceremony in Ayodhya left everyone speechless and filled with tears of joy. The smiling idol of Ram Lalla left wide smiles on our faces. The country was painted in saffron and Ram flags adorned the flagpoles everywhere. This historic day marked the end of Lord Ram's vanvaas- marking his return to his birthplace- Ayodhya.

I couldn't watch the consecration ceremony live, but when it was repeatedly aired on different news channels, I was awe-struck by the detailing that went into sculpting the idol- those big eyes, beautiful smile- the idol appeared so real to me that for a moment my eyes got moist. The nadaswaram playing 'Kurai ondrum illai' (meaning I have no grievances) during the aarti perfectly complemented my feelings. If watching this ceremony on the TV screen could cause such a powerful impact on me, just imagine the profound impact it would have had on people who witnessed the ceremony live in Ayodhya!

Through news channels, I also got to see how the attendees were gushing over witnessing the goosebumps-inducing ceremony live and were praising their fortunes for being invited. They spoke high about the swift and prompt management at Ayodhya as well. Another place to visit added to my bucket list! :)

To see the rich tapestry of Indian heritage being restored through the construction of the Ram temple makes my heart swell with pride. The Ramayan is one of my favourites that I always revisit- either by watching the serial or by reading the book. To imagine the sheer fact that viewing Lord Ram is not going to be restricted only to my imagination fills me with ecstasy.

22nd January 2024 officially begins the dawn of a new era. Let's all come together and celebrate every 22nd January from now on in a grand manner and make sure this day is forever etched in our memory.

Jai Shri Ram!!

                                                

                             - Anusha Sridhar

(Fun fact: The name of the person who sculpted the idol and gave life is Arun Yogiraj and the name of the person who was Ram in the first Ramayan serial made was Arun Govil! Notice the same name..)

Melancholic Musing

The recent events- the horrendous crimes that have taken place across the country have rattled me to the core. The condition of women and girls is becoming miserable day-by-day and despite that, there are people who still believe that everything happens only because the girl wished for it. Restrictions are imposed on her due to which whatever little freedom she gets is also taken away from her. This poem is just me expressing my angst on the injustice that is being meted to women and I post this with a hope that there will be a change in general mindset and biased opinions people have against women.

Everything I'd done
Every sacrifice I'd made
Every little step I'd taken
to mend our relationship
was always looked down in disdain.
Every moment I spent
always gave pain.
But despite all of that
I tried sticking together
tried to mend things
But you always spent time
only for your gain.

I knew it.
I knew it from the very start
that you were just using me.
but this silly heart
Oh this silly heart
never wanted to accept.
It knew it was living in a delusion.
But it continued to beat
it continued to beat with a hope 
that one day things would be better
One day it'd be back to normal.
But little did it realise that
things were getting eerily abnormal.

Despite the discrepancies,
Despite the desperate doubts,
Despite the state of submission,
I was in that comfort zone.
The heart found its soulmate.
It was ready to give umpteen chances
despite whatever the state.

Every time I looked into the mirror
I wondered
Why were my eyes red
and face filled with patches of black-blue?
I realised
It was your long strong hands
and your hard white shoe.

I always climbed down the ladder of life.
Put you before my dreams.
tried my level best
to stop those screams.
I always tried to change myself
in the process even losing myself.
But it never mattered to me
as long as you were clutching my hands
by going down on one knee.

I trusted you more than my kith and kin-my own.
It never mattered to me that I was alone
despite whatever situation I was thrown.
I never felt any remorse for  turning my back.
'cause somewhere I felt you'd have my back.
But when you showed me your true self
why was I shattered instead of taken aback?

Everything was over.
Finally I could come out.
The relationship got over, but 
what is the use
what is the use when everything is over
while my eyes forever shut?

                                                                                 

                                                                -  Anusha Sridhar

Social media syndrome

After a lot of persuasion by my friends, I finally joined Instagram. I felt very happy that I was becoming a part of the crowd. I was excited that my blogs would reach a wider audience and I could connect to all my old friends with whom I had lost contact. 

It was a quite a memorable day. I got in touch with many people whom I knew- but never spoke to. I got a significant number of followers and started enjoying memes; I understood the craze for it. I got good story responses and I, at last, became a 'Gen-Z social media user.'

The first few days were fun. I learnt the nuances of the app. I also learnt how to put stories according to the situation (the right song, the right pictures and tagging people) It was great to stay in the limelight and I was basking in the glory of being an avid 'Insta user'(this is the Gen-Z way of using the word). 

A few weeks passed by. There was a significant jump in my followers list. I was delighted at the prospect of reaching new milestones in terms of the growth in number of followers.  I was very excited that I had my own personal platform where I could post snippets of my life and stay relevant with the latest trends. With India having the most Instagram users in the world, I was just a very small addition to the humongous 'Indian Instagram- Gen-Z users world'.

As I started to use it on a daily basis- sharing reels and posts with friends and getting timely updates of my favourite films and stars, I realised two things. One, the amount of time I was spending on the app was increasing rapidly and two, I was always looking for 'Instagrammable' pictures- any new place I visited had to first be registered in my mobile and only then in my mind. Not that taking pictures of new surroundings is bad, but it was a new trait I had seen in myself.

Using Instagram was a great way for me to take a break from my daily routine. It provided me the much-needed laughter and was a great stressbuster too. But there were a lot of inherent comparisons that sprung up in my mind while using the app and checking peoples' feed.  An inexplicable feeling- a feeling of discontent and social estrangement. I really had no idea as to why I was developing such negative connotations despite being an optimistic person. I started feeling dejected even at the slightest prospect of lack of fun. Life started looking sombre, very monotonous with no form of break.

These symptoms of social media syndrome worsened day by day and my discontent kept increasing. Seeing this, one day I courageously decided to take a break- to come out of insta for some time. This decision made a lot of difference. I had lots of time to invest in myself- to groom my skills. After a fortnight, I rejoined Instagram with my usage solely restricted to a particular time frame and the purpose just being to stay connected with people.

After this drastic change, I had a few questions. When people know that they are signing in to be a part of a community that excessively promotes toxic positivity, why do compare their lives with others? Why is there this irresistible urge to have one's own active social media footprint?

Being on social media or wanting people to know our presence is not a bad trait. But in this process of showing the world that we are always happy and have a comfortable life, we deliberately put up a show; wear a mask and are never true to ourselves. Highlighting all the good things that have happened is not a problem. The problem lies in not acknowledging that everyone has their own share of both good and bad days and that people just choose to put out only their good experiences. Our definition of a perfect and happy life needn't match with the societal standards and expectations.

It is a natural human tendency to draw out lines of comparison when you find someone making great stride in their respective fields. It's okay if you are disappointed at your personal growth looking at their progress. Learn to come out of it and make a positive change since brooding is going to take you nowhere. It might be difficult to digest certain things at the initial stages, but once you start looking at Instagram as a place for inspiration rather than that of depression and anxiety, it will make you a much better and happier person in life. 

                              - Anusha Sridhar

Parakram Diwas

 (Hello my readers! How are you? It has been quite long since I have written anything these days. I have been preoccupied with some activity or the other- mid exams, celebrations, official visits through the toastmasters club, and lots of other stuff. But, you know, I want to plan my writing instead of making it erratic. Should I have deadlines like once in a month or one-and-a-half month? Do comment your opinion.)

As I was trying to figure out what to write next, a message from college popped up on my phone. It stated 'Please do participate in the Nationwide essay writing competition conducted by the Government of India on Subhas Chandra Bose's contribution towards the freedom struggle.' This got me excited. I rolled up my sleeves, wore my thinking caps and got ready to do the job. This is the essay I submitted on the aforementioned topic. I have made a few changes here and there before publishing it as a blog. Your views matter a lot. So please do give me your honest opinion and help in propelling my growth as a writer. The essay is as follows:

Subhas Chandra Bose- also widely known as Netaji- is a very popular figure among the masses and is remembered for his ideologies and decisions. His famous slogan ‘GIVE ME BLOOD AND I WILL GIVE YOU FREEDOM’ is unforgettable and still reverberates throughout the country. He continues to remain an inspiration for today’s generation for his far-sightedness and his approach in combating problems.

Bose was a staunch advocate for complete freedom and didn’t want the country to achieve freedom in parts. He rose against all kinds of discrimination as a student and never hesitated to fight for his rights. Due to his outspoken attitude, he was expelled several times and was classified as a rebel-Indian. But despite all this, Bose was an exceptional student. He passed his ICS exam. But after the Jallianwala Bagh incident he was shattered. He decided to put his heart and soul working for the country’s freedom.

He joined the INC and worked actively to enlighten the youth and students about the importance of achieving freedom and the atrocities committed by Britishers. He played an active part in igniting a spark in the young blood. He started the newspaper ‘Swaraj’ with the sole intention to spread the word about injustice prevailing under the British rule. He even wrote the book ‘The Indian Struggle’ which charted the Indian Independence movement which was in turn, banned by the British.

He had a lot of respect and admiration for Gandhiji despite certain ideological differences and was the person who gave him the title ‘Father of the Nation.’ He also revered Swami Vivekananda as his guru and followed his teachings and principles.

‘One individual may die for an idea. But that idea will, after his death, incarnate itself in a thousand lives. That is how the wheel of evolution moves on and the ideas and dreams of one nation are bequeathed to the next.’  Netaji believed that a person continues to live in the world after his death only through his morals. 

Bose was also the pioneer behind the revival of the Azad Hind Fauj or the Indian National Army (INA) first established by Mohan Singh. He believed in the paramount importance the Army's fearlessness and invincibility hold in order to defeat the enemy.

He went to great lengths to achieve freedom for the country. So much so, that he escaped from the clutches of the Britishers twice and travelled by different mediums- car, train and even by foot. His reappearance-both in Kabul and Germany- gave newfound confidence to the Indian rebels and provided an insight to his masterplan. He even went to Japan to resurrect the INA and make it an unstoppable driving force.

Netaji played a very crucial role in India’s freedom struggle. His contributions to the country are unmatched. His thoughts and vision for the country is the reason why he holds a position as a legendary freedom fighter. His firm belief ‘Freedom is not given- it is taken’ shows his commitment and conviction towards the cause. 

His war cry 'Delhi Chalo!' motivated the army personnel to such great lengths that they passionately laid their life down for the country. Such was Bose's impact (Rightly, his birth anniversary i.e the 23rd of January, is celebrated as Parakram Diwas to commemorate and honor his bravery and courage).

We Indians are proud that you have taken birth on this pure soil. We will always remember your ideals and will not let your contributions go in vain. Your inspirational life will always be etched in the walls of memory and the patriotic spark you have kindled in our hearts will gleam in our actions.   

        - Anusha Sridhar

 

 

My Insights

After two years of juggling with offline and online classes, a hectic schedule and loads of exams I finally got a break of three whole months. Three months to re-plan, reset and restart a new chapter in my life- four years in an Engineering college.

I got admission into one of the most prestigious and top women's colleges in Telangana- BVRIT-H. It gave me immense satisfaction and a feeling of triumph that I finally overcame the peer pressure, unwanted comparisons and most importantly, I came out of the vicious cycle of stress, anxiety and depression.

I had visited the college to clear all the formalities when I was informed that there was an induction program planned for all the freshers. The itinerary and general outcomes of the program were also briefly put out in our respective groups.

On the eventful day, I had attended the session with an amalgamation of emotions and loads of questions. I was a bit nervous about interacting with the new crowd and how I would carry myself. But all of that disappeared when I started listening to everyone speak. I admired the poise with which the alumni carried themselves on stage- without flinching- while rendering their speeches and was truly inspired by the address given by our Principal mam and Chairman sir.

The departmental orientation further boosted my confidence. I got to interact with the faculty and got my doubts cleared. I was happy to be on the right track with an assurance that my future was secure. As the session ended, I was inquisitive and was bubbling with enthusiasm about what was next in store.

The next three days passed in a blink as we students were kept engaged with various sessions covering diverse topics. The resource persons interacted with us in an amiable manner and were open to questions. They spoke about general topics and on how certain activities unknowingly hamper our productivity. They stressed upon the common mistakes students make, and gave tips to succeed professionally. There was a discussion about human values and important skills to develop during the course of four years. There was also an interactive talk on how important one's hobbies are.

We were given activities to keep the adrenaline rush high. We went for a campus tour and had a brief look at everything. We made new friends and got to know each other better in a short span of time thanks to the competitions organized that promoted a sense of teamwork and accomplishment. 

One thing that I really liked was how the college management stressed that they treated students from all the branches equally. They don't look at different groups as a ladder that promotes hierarchy but as a rope- a tool to connect all the branches through extensive training to everyone to remove the difference.

We were introduced to several clubs and were made aware of the numerous and diverse opportunities we have if we know how to balance academics along with activities. There is an equal importance given to technical clubs and non-technical clubs. Social service and nature-love also is of paramount importance so there are clubs one could join to make a difference and contribute from their end. A psychologist is also present with whom students can discuss their academic related problems and their personal problems too without any hesitation.

An opportunity properly utilized can change people's perception and can give one profound respect in the society. I am very proud to be a part of a college that offers a wide array of opportunities and helps everyone to shine.

                                               - Anusha Sridhar

                        

Body Positivity

 In this world where friends are measured by followers on social media sites, likes on a post measure one's beauty, preconceived notions about a certain body type takes the center stage- it is important to not lose one's serenity. 

It is important to not get discouraged by a certain section of people having narrow-minded thoughts. It is important to ensure that meaningful conversations don't take a backseat. It is important to understand the concept of inclusivity and apply it to our everyday lives. It is important to always stay positive and never fall prey to the negativity surrounding us.

In today's time where there are lots of expectations and comparisons, it sometimes so happens that people tend to presume things about your appearance. They rate your looks based on certain societal standards and expect you to fall into that bracket. If you don't, you are branded, but if you manage to fall into that category, you are venerated.  These double standards of people and their archaic thinking leads to something called 'body shaming'.

This problem is not something which has just been discovered. It has always been existent. The only difference this time is that people are now boldly opening up; are telling the world about their awful experiences.

 Every man who doesn't have a chiseled body and toned arms is the target for trolls. Similarly, every woman who doesn't have a flat stomach and toned legs is also the bait for trolls.

One must understand that there is a lot of difference between critics and trollers. Critics are the people who are genuinely concerned about you and your health; their sole intention is only to motivate you to shed those extra kilos.  But, trollers are the people who call you names; try to put you down in front of a crowd. Know the difference and don't distance yourself from the good people in your lives.

Many family members also keep bringing up the topic of weight. There is mostly a comparison done with cousins or relatives of the same age. Many-a-times even one's dressing sense is also chided. There are only two things we can do when a family member is involved: either ignore them or be brave and tell them your genuine feelings- the anguish and insecurity you feel when they always point you out.

At one point in our life, all of us have either been on the giving side or on the receiving side of comments about our body. How many times have we called someone 'motu' or even said 'tu intni patli hai ki meri phook se tu udd jayegi' to a person? These lines bring the loudest of laughter among friends. One might argue that such statements are only intended to be a joke and both the parties enjoy it. But the reality is that after a certain point, that person is known to the world only by their weight- not by their achievements. There is a certain sense of dislike developed towards one's own body. If remained unchecked, it goes to an extreme; the other person's confidence falters very badly and he/she goes into the labyrinth of self-doubt and depression. This is a vicious cycle to which a big full stop has to be put. Scars that happen in childhood can never be fully healed.

'There is awareness that body shaming is bad, but there is no acceptance of different body sizes.'  Even in a few popular shops, a woman's mannequin is generally represented as someone with a slim waist. A woman is generally presumed to be someone with a short height, small feet and who can easily wear all kinds of clothes without any apprehensions. Everyone has different body sizes yet shops choose to portray a body figure which most of the people don't even have. It breaks my heart to see no proper clothes for people having a bigger waistline than the conventional kind. Yes, there are separate shops for people who are bigger but the stigma around the topic makes some feel awkward while going to such places. 

A mother had conducted an experiment to teach her child what bullying does to a person. She asked the child to think of the paper as a person and call it names. As she started saying things, the mother kept crumpling the paper bit by bit. After the entire paper was crumpled, she asked her child to say sorry to the paper. She opened the paper back to its original size. The paper lost its entire form.

This is exactly what happens during body-shaming. You destroy a person's confidence like slow poison; he stops communicating, making friends and goes into a shell.

"I am not handsome, but I can give my hand-to-some when in need. Beauty is in the heart, not in the face."  This quote by Dr. Kalam makes people think- question their ways of assessment of others and their own hypocrisy while doing so.

Stop judging yourself based on your appearance. Love yourself no matter what people think about you. Having a healthy body is not wrong if you are active and flexible enough to do your own tasks. Keep yourself fit despite however you look because that will increase your longevity and will make your brain sharper. Lose weight only for your sake; don't do it due to the societal pressure to look appeasing.

 Finally, stop measuring a person's worth through one's body features and start measuring them through their kind gestures. Change the way you look at people and your life will surely change for the better.

                             - Anusha Sridhar

Independence

There is a popular saying- in order to achieve something, we must be independent. We must be aware of the losses and gains of our actions. That only happens when we understand the gravity of the situation and start taking responsibility for our deeds.

Now, what exactly is independence? Not being dependent and attaining liberation from something or someone. It is not a compulsion as such to be able to stand on your own feet and take a steadfast stance, but it is important to at least prepare oneself to be so when the need arises.

Independence is not something that is related to age. It is a quality that evokes from within depending on the circumstances and our understanding of ground reality. In other words, it depends on a person's maturity levels and how capable they are to grasp both the sides of the coin.

In this journey of becoming self-reliant, it is very important to respect our choices and not lament about them. Thinking a lot about the past will make us sink in the quicksand of regret and despair. There is nothing we can do to change what has happened. So it is important to always keep moving forward and ensure that each day takes us an inch closer to the penultimate goal. 

Not all days are going to be bright and not all circumstances will favour us. We mustn't stop working despite knowing beforehand that situations are not going to play out our way. It is important to be optimistic and look for a smarter approach that will bring us out. Believe that there is always a happy ending waiting and we can reach it only if we go the extra mile.

Being independent doesn't mean that when you are overcome by self-doubt and anxiety due to certain outcomes, you have to face it all by yourself. You must always acknowledge the people who are always by your side as a friend and as a guide. It is fine if you sometimes are not able to fit into the conventional model of a self-sufficient person. It is fine if sometimes you fall short of something. But it is important to comeback stronger after every setback.

Sometimes, being independent might make people arrogant and they start judging others for still living in someone's shadow and taking a second opinion. This is wrong. Everyone has their own understanding and way of doing things. We have no right to poke our nose and give unnecessary advice.

Independence- to an extent- would also mean to follow your daily routine meticulously and play an active role in the household work. It might look comparatively lesser to few, but knowing such things would surely be beneficial for us in the long run. We must learn to never look down at anything as insignificant.

Independence has its own cost. It is something that comes to some with choice and to some without a choice. Irrespective of that, we have to accept whatever comes to us. When we know some things can't be changed, instead of cribbing about it, we must either take it up as a challenge and aim to change certain aspects or must start enjoying the process and change the situation we are in. Either way, our sole aim must be to improve the condition we are in.

Nobody is fully independent. At some point or the other we need someone's assistance to cope up with situations. So one must always raise the bar high with each attempt. Must come up with novel ideas to sustain the competition. Must be aware of what is going on around. Must be conscious of the way we project ourselves and MUST understand that EVERYTHING has a price. Every breakthrough, everything achieved always comes with a price.

                                      - Anusha Sridhar

Navratri time

 If there is any festival that is celebrated with great pomp and splendor across the country in different forms- it is Navratri. Be it the garba in Gujarat, the Ram-leelas in UP, the Durga-pandals in West Bengal or the Golu in Tamil Nadu- every state has its own unique way of commencing the festival.

Navratri is one time of the year that I eagerly wait for. Arranging the Golu bommais, trying novel ways of setting them, making new kolams and buying new dolls every year really builds up the excitement. There needs to be elaborate planning, shifting of things and a proper arrangement while setting up the Golu padi. It is time consuming, but fun. 

This is the third year of keeping Golu in our house and trust me, every year I have learnt something new. It became a lot easier to set up all the items. I developed passion towards decoration and learnt how to keep things simple without over-doing it. 

                                                                   

Yes, sometimes we may not be satisfied with the outcome- so we have no apprehensions in spending extra time to re-do it. Sometimes, we may not agree with each other about certain ways of arrangement and have deep discussions about it, but at the end of the day, we are contended. We don't even get proper sleep-time, but still  wake up the next day and arrange everything for the morning puja and carry on with our daily chores. 

For me, Navratri is equivalent to great memories and new learning experiences. During Navratri, I get solid time to spend with my family. Dinner-time discussions on a variety of topics become more frequent. We watch films together, go outside and enjoy to the core!

One more reason why I like Navratri is because of the gatherings at home. For 9 days, our house will be brimming with people. Wearing a wide range of clothes, photographs, games, meet-ups with old friends, relishing the different kinds of prasadams- there is everything!

Navratri is a full-fledged festival. It gives immense satisfaction to everyone celebrating it. Wishing all my readers a very happy Navratri! Enjoy your holidays! Sit back, relax, savor new varieties of food and I will meet you very soon with my next blog!

Cheers till then!

                                    - Anusha Sridhar

 

Grandparents Day

 Grandparents. They have seen all generations and have observed the changes- both in lifestyle and in behavioral patterns. This makes them the most experienced persons who can guide and support during crucial times. Their tips regarding certain affairs prove how knowledgeable they are. 

 They might not agree with our viewpoint at times. They might strain themselves over trivial things. We might feel they are overprotective of their grandchildren. But the truth is that, it gives them immense satisfaction to always be by their grandchild's side. 

Old age is called a 'second childhood.' They may have mood swings. But we grandchildren must be considerate towards them. It is our duty to take care of them and get them accustomed to the new world.

They may lose their basic body functions. They might be dependent on others. But they regain all their lost energy and become a spring chicken when their grandchild is around. That is the true love they have towards them.

They are ready to learn new technology to understand them better. They don't want to be left behind in terms of connectivity to the Gen-Z.  Infact, now few grandparents have caught up with the trend very well! They have watched more films, serials and series than their grandchildren. They are even featuring on social media platforms, which is a positive sign of inclusivity.

They clap the hardest for your success. They sob the most when you are sad. They fight for you with your parents. They are your company whenever you feel bored. They are chirpy, emotional, savage, innocent and have a sweet little smile that instantly melts your heart.

Regardless of the fact whether your grandparents are physically present or not, they always hold a special place in your heart. These memories have to be cherished. And today, September 11th, on account of Grandparents Day, let us thank them from the bottom of our heart for giving us unforgettable memories and evergreen stories to share with the future generations. 

We always love you however you are. And remember, we always have your back.

Love you Tatagaru and Amamma! Happy Grandparents Day!

                                                - Anusha Sridhar

 

Ponniyin Selvan- the finesse

 Finally, back to blogging after a hectic 6 months! I am quite excited to be back on this platform which has given me a voice and an identity. Furthermore, I am thrilled to be back to my favorite routine i.e. reading books! Ah! How much I missed this pastime!

I got my hands on one of the most celebrated novels in Tamil literature- Ponniyin Selvan translated by Pavitra Srinivasan and Varsha Venugopal. 

I am grateful to them for translating this masterpiece and introducing me to the world of Chozhas. I am contended that I could finally read the book that has always been on the top for its themes that are even relevant in today's times. 

My excitement got piqued since there is a movie releasing based on the book. So without further ado, I immediately started reading, and my God! I couldn't resist myself at all. I was reading chapter after chapter without any pause. I was so engrossed, that I never knew the time. I became emotionally invested. Each character had equal importance in contributing towards the story. Subtle sarcasm, tragedy, revenge, conspiracy, friendship, romance, bravery- it has everything. The twists in the end leave you gasping for breath. 

Normally many people presume that this book is based on complete history. But it is a little different since its genre is historical fiction- meaning that few characters are the brainchild of the author. This has made it a riveting account of the Chozhas.

The author- Kalki R Krishnamurthy- gives vivid descriptions of all the palaces, temples, rivers and festivals. He uses allegory during the conversations between characters and uses similes and metaphors (with a lil exaggeration, of course) while describing the characters' looks, their venerable feats and titles. The book takes your imagery to the next level and no doubt cinephiles are awaiting this movie. 

The best part is that every person has their own imagination about the characters. But Mani Ratnam sir has chosen actors in such a way that has equally satisfied everyone's fantasies. Every actor looks perfect for their respective roles.

Making 'Ponniyin Selvan' has been the dream of Tamil cinema for 60 years. An unfulfilled dream film of several directors due to some constraints is now being released on September 30th 2022. The long wait of everyone is finally coming to an end.

As audience, let us first trust the director's vision. Who knows what is there under his sleeve? Let us not spoil the mood for the film by mere speculations or comparisons.

Remember that making a film of such grandeur is not a normal task and hats off to everyone who worked behind creating this project. 

For Non-Tamilians, it might be a little difficult to pronounce the names of characters. Even I myself struggled at the start because I found the names too long! (haha) But once you go forward with the books, you will even learn to pronounce them and why, you will even fondly remember them!

                            - Anusha Sridhar

(P.S My question to the people who read the book- who is your favorite character and why?  Let us have a discussion in the comments. To the people who have not, I urge you to either please read the book or watch the movie. If feasible, do both! :) Don't miss upon such literary classics. It gives you once in a lifetime experience which when you look back becomes very memorable.)