I just watched “The Namesake” – the master piece from Mira Nair. It has been long… no let me correct that – really long that I have seen such a brilliant piece of cinema. What an amazing story! How beautifully filmed! Made me cry, laugh and wonder all at the same time. This is what I am here for – perspective; perspective and experiences to make me live my life in much more meaningful way.
The movie, if seen at some other time, probably wouldn’t have had such a profound effect on me. Everything about it, India, parents, different culture, finding a partner… all resonated with me so well because of the place and situation I am in. I still recommend it to people who appreciates good cinema, a story so aesthetically told. There are so many subtle things about the film, so carefully placed and timed, that makes you think. My respect for Mira Nair, as a filmmaker, has grown many folds.
Another ‘life changing experience’ that I recently went through, “Tuesdays with Morrie”. An absolute essential for everyone everywhere in every stage of life- life’s little instruction booklet. It has so much ‘soul’, so many answers to what everyone asks day in day out. Read it and then gift to someone really important in your life. Let me not be cynical – give to everyone who are really important in your life, I promise that you wont regret it. It is written by Mitch Albom who has brilliantly captured his visits to his professor Morrie Schwartz. He visits his mentor every Tuesday, in his mentor’s last days’, to learn about life form the eyes of a person who knows when he is going to die. It is a book that will ‘humble’ you and again provide you with a different perspective (by now you would know that it is my favourite word!). It will sneak up from behind and grab your heart, one of the reviews said. I could not agree more.
For those who didn’t know, I have just returned from a 3 week long visit from ‘home’ country – India. I am still in the process of letting the feeling sink in that I have moved! I think it will be quite sometime before I get to go back again. May be it will sink in then…
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Namesake!
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4 comments:
I was abt to leave u a scrap that u shd update ur blog...its been long..bt thot i shd chk it b4 i say smthng....thnk god I didnt scrap.
Dnt knw abt NameSake...yeah bt i concur on "Tuesday's with Morrie"..amazingly simple and powerful book!!
gud u recomended it here as wat ur vanity tells u is correct :)
Hey there...Though I couldn't watch the movie but read the novel when u mentioned about ure blog...
As I look back upon time, I can say with pure recollection, that family is one of the most important aspects of a person’s life. My upbringing defined me, and my family environment became a part of my identity. In this respect it remains of utmost importance to initiate, cultivate, maintain, and prioritize family relationships. Growing up in a Western culture where family values are not held as strictly, can be a deterrent in this regard, but it remains in our heritage to continue on this valuable tradition. I can say I took the best of both worlds when I combine my Indian heritage with my Western upbringing. As a multi-cultural individual, I have teetered on the edge of both cultures, sometimes traversing onto either side of the demarcation line. With a growing sense of who I am, I realize that family relationships are an integral part of what makes up me.
Though at times I run away from this feeling ( all the time actually ).
As a child you find comfort in hanging out with your parents. As a teenager you find identity when you step away from parents and illustrate your independence. As a young adult as you are now independent, you learn to appreciate them so much more.
You find yourself loving their mannerisms so much more. You thank them for the things they provided for you as a child, and you look forward to one day being that same source of strength they were to you in your young age, to them in their old age. It is a note that resonates deep within my heart strings. No matter how hard you try, you can never extricate yourself from your family. They are integral to who you are, and the harder you try to distance yourself from them, the closer they become. I would say, why fight that feeling?
You were put in your family for some cosmic (forgive me for not using a better word) reason, and it remains unthinkable to consider life without them. They stick closer than we could ever hope or reason to think.
Our roots hold us strong...We can't just let them goooo.....
Dont know if its Telepathy or just signs :)
Just saw it myself 4 days back !! And agree that its amazing. And ofcourse 'Tuesdays with Morrie' after the first time I read it has become a coffee table book in my home (which you already know i guess :) )
Good to read as usual.
Take care ....
Wanna read from you..........
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