ae dil hai mushkil..

the name of the movie is better suited to a critique of the movie rather than the movie itself. the way i see it, it's like watching a sugarcane being squeezed through a crusher and eagerly waiting for the juice only to be served the crushed mass instead.

Karan Johan took everything that is sublime about love, tried to rationalize it in every painful way and served us a mess of confusion and childish passion. I was so cheated by the beautiful songs and lyrics that I went to watch the movie despite the poor reviews and now I almost wish that I could forget I ever watched the movie.

Ranbir for all his performance - came across as so childish and the whole movie was a giant mistake that should have never been made. The only highlight was, and I never thought I would ever say this, but it speaks to the human ability to learn and grow - Aishwarya rai! She was beautiful, hot and had done a great job acting. Simply loved her.

The number of scenes in clubs and the meaninglessness of the protagonist's life seemed to mirror Karan Johar's life itself :/ The only thing that scares is this: is my reaction because I am older and can't appreciate the finer things or because it was simply a horrible movie?

Maalika

PS: Should i remove all these emojis? A picture is worth a thousand words, true. But for those who enjoy the play of words, pictures are superfluous! :)

becoming jane and falling in love with mcavoy!

I saw the movie becoming jane (at the least, I watched the interesting bits while I fast forwarded through the others). It gave me a fascinating insight that I had to pen down immediately. the movie shows jane as an intellectual (which should be obvious to anyone who has read her books). it also shows helplessly in love with a penniless lawyer..

they eventually elope. but get this.. at some point she realizes that he won't be able to support his family and that it will eventually take a toll on love and happiness. so you should either be so calculative as to never make the mistake of falling in love with someone unsuitable, or be so passionate that you blow all caution to the wind. the unique combination of high passion and high intellectualism that an author like jane austen is gifted with required her to give up on marriage.. because couldn't help fall in love with an intelligent and witty man and couldn't marry him either, because she knew it was unsustainable.

the question in my mind is this: will the love truly have wilted? having lived past so many obstacles in life, I want to say - no. love wouldn't have wilted if the two people are strong minded. but it's also hard to predict whether the person you want to marry will be that strong. marriage is the ultimate test of your judgement of character and you have to be conservative. a false positive is too dangerous!

anyhow - fell in love with james mcavoy in the process... at 5' 7" he is short, but sweet :)

and here is yet another insight! it doesn't take very long at all for the two fall in love with each other! having a closet single and actively dating friend of 32 really helps in understanding how the matters of the heart works! it takes a few conversations, physical attractiveness, wit and humor, and of course the level intimacy achieved in these conversations for two people to fall in love! time is only needed when this love has to conquer difficulties.. that's why arranged marriages in india work so well.. here, eligible boy and girl meet, have a few conversations.. and voila.. they are in love! and of course they don't have to move the earth for the other.. the parents will see to it.. the issue with the movie is that the guy is ready to elope with her after only a few conversations which seemed a bit absurd to me. he says "I am yours, heart and soul" and I think "yes, I am sure you are - but can you starve for her for 10 days?"

this is where our friend mani ratnam comes in.. shalini in alaipayuthey asks mathavan - you saw me a few times, you made me laugh and now you made me cry.. what great love is there between us? my parents brought me up, and now I can't leave them.. but sometimes.. the few conversations, and the unique nature of your relationship and intimacy is such that you are convinced that you will never experience this with anyone else.. and then it gives you the power to move the earth :) wait - am i contradicting myself here somewhere? perhaps.. but its fun to ramble on :)