Category: Thoughts uncut

What I Learnt from Fast & Furious

Fast&Furious

Sometimes you learn some great lessons when you’re least expecting them. I was watching Furious 6, and this particular dialogue hit me hard. Not only the truth in it, but also the conviction with which the character delivers it.

That’s when I realized; in all my stories so far, I have never been able to create a character so strong and powerful as this one. It’s one of the things that make a character stand out, and be remembered. It’s the self-belief, the conviction, and – to an extent – arrogance that defines a character.

Between a character like this and a character that remains silent in that exact situation, I’d always prefer this one.

That’s a writing lesson I’d never forget; for a character to linger, she must display powerful attitude.

What say you guys? Any other lessons from movies?

It’s the Time, to –

It's the time

I have had enough.

Enough of peer, and enough of pressure.

More than enough of awareness.

And also of social conformity.

 

It’s the time, to step down

From the pedestal, and accept

the harsh truth. For acceptance,

is the first step to recovery —

or so they say.

 

But —

I have had enough.

Of pointing fingers, and

of ‘sharing’ responsibilities

I respect family — they adore tradition.

It was my duty, they said

To care, and cure — and nurture

The future of our country.

 

Why should I make a home —

When my richer counterparts

party? After all —

We are all 19.

 

It’s the time, to make a stand

To step up — and step out

To a future of my choice.

Giving Thanks, the Tamil Way

I am a South Indian and my mother tongue is Tamil.

I just said that, because today is a special day for us Tamils. It’s called Pongal.

Pongal is also a famous food item prepared with rice. It could either be sweet – prepared with jaggery, and ghee roasted cashews, or savory – prepared with lots of black pepper.

It’s the day farmers thank the Sun for a good year’s harvest and pray for a better harvest the following year. It’s like Thanksgiving Day for them. It’s only their special day, farmers who work so hard to fill our plates – but as things go on the real world, we all get a public holiday.

Ironically though, while the rest of us relax and rest, farmers spend the day making pongal and offering it to the Sun god. The following day, is a celebration for the cattle that helps in farming. They bathe their cattle, feed them grandly and thank them too. The following day is when they take meat – and in grand fashion too! Generally, it’s a week-long celebration for farmers.

Students celebrate this holiday as much as the farmers; all schools and colleges close for a whole week. And with the weekend just around the corner, most people have gone home to family to celebrate the holidays. They make pongal early in the morning, offer it to the various gods they worship, and spend the whole afternoon watching the back-to-back movies telecasted on TV. A typical holiday at a typical (modern) South Indian home.

Did I mention Pongal is one of the most auspicious days of the Tamil calendar?

Thought you ought to know.