The Stranger in the Mirror by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra (Book Review: 4.25*/5) !!!

1962nd BLOG POST

29^th Book of 2021

 

There are many Bollywood personalities who are quite open about themselves, and you understand them a lot. There are many Movie directors and producers who are generally behind the scenes when it comes to moviemaking, but they assure they are close to their audiences by being Reality-show judges or Interview Host or being a pro at handling their social media handles. Similarly, there are few who are interested in creating movies only and doesn’t expose themselves at all and hence you always have a sense of curiosity in knowing about them. One such personalities is Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra who is the proud director of movies like Rang De Basanti, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and recently released, Toofaan.

 

It was a complete surprise when I learnt that his autobiography has been released which has been co-written with Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta, who is herself a very sound author and popular personality. The book is named “The Stranger in the Mirror” which is published by Rupa Publications in around 320 pages. This is one of the rare books where I have completed it by reading only 20-30 pages daily because I wanted to consume it in a way where I can imbibe much of its qualities in my working lifestyle. Now that I have finished reading it, I can very easily say that I have learnt a lot from it and how to be a constant personality throughout your career so that everyone you meet has the same thing to say about you.

 

This book is written in a style that you’ll feel you are watching a movie which is shifting its timeline back-to-back to keep you interested in the story. Mostly when I have read any autobiography, it always starts from the author’s birth/childhood and ends up with the chapter which discusses his/her most recent life-event. This is completely different from all such attempts. Here, you’ll be surprised reading the next chapter after completing one as it will be completely different than the one you read just now. This makes you excited to know the other side of Rakeysh’s personality.

 

The book talks mainly about the world of cinema which has consumed Rakeysh in a way that his life revolves around it. Right from how he began from the world of advertising and then slowly moved to direction tells you about the amount of effort and commitment he has put in his work and craft. How certain good practices and relationships helped him with the opportunities or the help at the right time displays the importance of having good people around you. Rakeysh has been very vocal about the people who supported him in the life and career in several chapters throughout the book which tells you about the power of gratitude and how it keeps compounding to give you great results when you expect the least.

 

He tells it all- his days of success as well as failure. He hasn’t hidden anything which helps the reader in you to connect the dots with your life and see how you reacted in the similar conditions. He also talks about how he had to regularly consider keeping his only house on mortgage because every time he wanted funds, people didn’t agree, and he was all by himself to make that movie he wanted to. He also describes how small experiences or incidents made him think about the certain topic and then finally decide of creating a movie on it. He states how difficult it became for him when he took his scripts to the actors who kept refusing the movie continuously making it difficult for him to proceed ahead with his dreams.

 

When he is not speaking, his favourite people are talking about him or their experiences of collaborating with Rakeysh in their own words. I would like to mention some of these people such as Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Aamir Khan, Waheeda Rehman, Ronnie Screwvala, Madhavan, Prahlad Kakkar, Manoj Bajpayee, Narayana Murthy, Farhan Akhtar, Atul Kulkarni etc. Even his family has spoken about him in depth such as his sister, his wife, and children. All these pieces will make you understand the character of Rakeysh more and what makes him one of the rare personalities in Bollywood. His craft of making cinema without thinking of its success or failure tells you about the passion for movies that he has. 

 

Overall, the book is surely interesting, and it will help you know the process of moviemaking more than what you already know. Next time when you would be watching ROMP’s movie, you’ll watch every scene deeply as you know it has been picturized keeping certain aspects in mind. I really loved his emotional feelings for Amitabh Bachchan and I could connect a lot with it being Big B’s fan myself. Reeta has played the major part in bringing everything together and scripting it in a way that makes you feel that you are directly talking with the director. I will not say that this is the most inspirational or motivational autobiography, but you would just love knowing this person who is fighting all the odds to continue his passion of making movies. I give this book 4.25 stars out of 5. Last but not the least, I loved the last chapter where it is described on how the title of the book got decided. Kudos to Reeta for giving the book a very beautiful end.

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE

 

Thanks.

 

WRITING BUDDHA 

 

Beeja ka Jaadu by Rida Chauhan (Book Review: 5*/5) !!!

1961st BLOG POST

28^th Book of 2021

 

I remember reading the book named “Wadiya Singh visits Planet Sparkle” published by Sonalika Publication and I was so impressed because I had purchased it for a 6-year-old niece; and the content of the book made me feel so bliss about how beautifully the social messages are imbibed in the children through lovely stories right from their developing years itself. I wished if similar books could get published so that children can benefit most out of them which will also help parents provide values to their kids in the form of stories. As all of you know that I assure that there is equal amount of content in Hindi as our non-English population is huge which are left out whenever we try to convey something in English. Hence, when I got to know about the new book from Sonalika Publication named “Beeja Ka Jaadu”, I really got delighted and picked it up for the same niece and before gifting her, read it myself. Haha! The book is written by Rida Chauhan.

 

This time the book is about the boy named Arjun who lives in a village. His father is a farmer. The issue here is that his father is idler and doesn’t work at all. Arjun himself tries to work as much as possible along with his studies and household activities. He is a workaholic and a very good boy. One day, he meets a man who gifts him a seed which turns out to be magical. When he goes next day in the field to sow it, suddenly, the seed starts talking to him and asks him to tell any three wishes which can be easily granted by the seed. This makes Arjun very happy. Now these three wishes are where Rida has tried to provide the message to the children through which they can learn great lessons to be a good person in life.

 

Like the previous book, Sonalika Publication and Rida again focuses on providing good messaging on nature and how it needs to be prevented for the betterment of the society in long run. This is a value which needs to be inculcated in kids as we, the previous and current generation, have already ruined enough on this Planet. It’s time that the next generation is aware about the benefits of nature and preserve it as much as possible.

 

The story also delivers a good morale value of how a person needs to wish well and best for others which ends up helping them achieve well in life. How we can find happiness in our own life by sharing and providing happiness with others is nicely portrayed through the story. I liked how in the end the Chauhan has also focused on the message knowing that kids might not grasp the purpose the story is providing.

 

The book also has meanings etc. in the end of the book for few Hindi words in case someone is unable to understand. I believe authors can keep it on the same page itself where the word is mentioned so that children can refer them then and there as some might not know that the meanings are present at the end of the book. There are fun exercises in the end which allows children to paint Arjun and his world as per their imagination while reading the story as well as they get a chance to find 10 differences from the two images. This book again has illustrations and images which makes the reader travel to the world the story is talking about. I feel this is one of the best practices to be followed by the publication house.

 

Overall, this is a very good initiative and every parent and grown up should ensure that the children in their vicinity are reading such books and stories to learn big messages of life through short stories. How can you rate this book at all – I give it 5 out of 5. Kudos to Rida Chauhan for the amazing short story.

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE

 

Thanks.

 

WRITING BUDDHA 

Movie Review: Bhuj - The Pride of India: Typical Bollywood-ish execution! ***

1960th BLOG POST

There are ample of Hindi movies based on Indian Army, Air Force and some even on Navy. Everyone does it in their own way on how they want to portray life of some great people who see nation and its pride above their life. It is very necessary to know about them even if movie is little bit here and there in terms of execution. I had seen the trailer of the movie “Bhuj: The Pride of India” which released on Hotstar just yesterday – again on Independence Day like Shershaah. Seeing it itself I didn’t get the good vibes about it. Shershaah has been a beautiful experience and it released a day before Bhuj came so the comparison is obvious. But leave comparison, even as an individual movie, it doesn’t stand any tall. This movie has bigger star cast such as Ajay Devgan, Sanjay Dutt, Sharad Kelkar, Sonakshi Sinha, Nora Fatehi, Pranitha Subhash etc.; hence the expectations are supposed to be high.

 

The movie is based on 1971 War and how India fought with Pakistan to save their Western province which made us sacrifice lives of many soldiers. Right from the first scene itself, movie shows how their Air Force attacks our Airbase so that we lose all our runways and can’t compete with their fighter planes. You start liking the whole atmosphere, but the way Ajay Devgan is introduced where he is almost lying as if he is dead and then wakes up suddenly and starts walking like a typical movie hero, you start complaining. Another thing that kept disturbing me was the regular pause in between to introduce us with some characters. It just kept breaking your flow and patience because it happens too often.

 

The first half is too slow to enjoy it at all. The only above average scene is an action sequence involving Nora Fatehi but even that’s not very superb. The whole excitement begins in the 2^nd half when the preparation for the War begins. It is then that you start getting involved with the story but it’s too late by then. Anyway, that whole sequence is nicely directed and portrayed. The same Bollywood problem lies as you see one soldier continuously fighting against multiple opponents without getting affected at all which looks completely unbelievable.

 

Also, there’s another complain I have. It’s 2021 now. The audiences have got very matured with great content on OTT platforms – the same place where your movies are releasing. It’s high time we see Army officers dancing and singing with their partner in multiple songs. We can expect some sensibility now. I understand that music is so imbibed in our culture and movies that it’s hard to separate it, but few movies and subjects don’t need them at all. In case you are putting them forcibly, at least try to have such songs that are melodious that even when you are irritated with its inclusion, you end up enjoying the same – the way it’s done in Shershaah.

 

The dialogues are just okay and doesn’t have any greatness about them. The movie is fine to watch to know the sacrifice our soldiers and brave people went through in the 1971 War but it’s not a great piece of cinema. The climax is good which ends the movie on a great note as you feel proud to see your nation winning. Also, to see how one officer can make big difference is nicely portrayed. Other than that, I remember nothing from the movie which will excite you as a viewer. I give the movie 3 stars. 1 star etc. just for the subject it’s based upon. Even if you miss watching this, you don’t miss something very great.

Thanks.

 

WRITING BUDDHA 

Movie Review: Shershaah: A grounded portrayal of a Soldier! ***½

1959th BLOG POST

Unfortunately, I have not liked Siddharth Malhotra as an actor ever. I have never understood why girls are crazy about him but whenever I have watched his film, I have always found him less than what he could have done. Therefore, when the movie, Shershaah, was announced which is based on the life and death of Captain Vikram Batra who helped us get back one of the toughest mountain peaks back from Pakistan’s claws in the Kargil War of 1999. He is a superhero since then and I don’t think anyone doesn’t know about him. There are already two Hindi movies based on him such as Lakshya and LOC Kargil so I was very sceptic as to what new Shershaah will offer and will Siddharth be able to take-off such an important character.

 

Yesterday, I watched it on the very first day on Amazon Prime of which I am pretty sure that if the movie must have been released in theatres, the impact of it would have been more than what it is on the OTT platform. The best part about the writing and script has been the humanization of the character of a soldier as much as possible rather than showing as someone who are meant to sacrifice and leave everything behind as they have chosen this for themselves. We are shown Vikram as someone who likes enjoying with friends, dating a girl, fighting with her family for their relationship, smoking cigarette, being a charmer and everything that your next-door-boy must be like.

 

Even when he gets into the Army, he doesn’t get transformed immediately into a very serious guy but remains to be very cool but focused on his responsibility of fighting for his country without fearing about death. You will not find many melodramatic scenes here unlike the kind of Soldier movies that we see. Though the romantic songs in the movie are something you don’t intend to watch but still they are a nice inclusion as it makes the portrayal of a patriotic movie little different than others where you only see the partner crying in song while leaving their better half for the Battle or War.

 

The dialogues are powerful in the movie as they convey the agenda behind it clearly. The songs are soulful, and they will find place in your playlist. The locations and shots are cinematic as you feel you are at the location, or you would wish to backpack and leave for mountains. Every scene is so aesthetically beautiful that you would want to frame each of them. The casting is great as everyone in their role looked perfect and not a single actor is out of sync with their character. I liked the background music but sometimes they make it little tough for you to hear what the characters are speaking among themselves in whispering tone. Also, I felt that the dubbing of the voice is not nicely synched with the video in few scenes as you can identify the gap between the movement of lips and the words spoken by the actors.

 

Talking about the lead performances, Siddharth Malhotra does well. As far as my belief goes – this is his career-best performance and touching something like this again is going to be tough for him. He makes you completely believe in the charming personality of the character who turns from a die-hard romantic boy to a Lieutenant and finally ends up being Captain in the Indian Army. Kiara Advani, as always, makes her screen presence felt and you would want to keep watching her whenever she is performing. There is something about her that makes her acceptable in every role she performs – either major or minor.

 

Overall, this is not a very machoism kind of a movie where you would want to become the lead character yourself and do the task. This is written and directed in a way that makes everything look and sound grounded. So, you’ll not find that Josh of URI or emotional quotient like Border but a very different portrayal of Indian Army’s efforts to win a War. Also, what kind of effort Batra made to get into the Army is completely missing from the script. I give this movie 3.5 stars out of 5. It is a one-time watch for sure.  

Thanks.

 

WRITING BUDDHA 

Podcast 4 | Akash Verma on love, relationship, heartbreaks, Extra-marital, divorce | Part 2 (Video)

1958th BLOG POST

Hi Friends,

 

Hope all of you took out time from your busy schedule and watched the Part 1 of my Podcast with Akash Verma. In case, you haven't, the link for the same is again re-shared in the end of the post.

 

In this Part 2 of the Podcast, Akash Verma, the founder of Chokore & National-Bestselling Author discuss a lot many things from which youth and even the grown-up can learn and take the lesson from.

 

We discussed everything from Love, Relationships, Heartbreaks, Extra-marital affairs , Divorce etc.

 

Please watch & leave your comments on the Youtube video.

______________________________________________________________

 

Akash Verma is the co-founder of a fashion startup centered around

Indian designs - www.chokore.com, and a national bestselling

author. Akash has 24+ years of experience in FMCG and Media at

senior levels with Coca-Cola, Red FM, Big FM, and TOI. Akash’s

work has taken him across the world, and he finds this experience

very relevant while giving shape to his stories. Akash practices

Buddhism as a life philosophy and loves Travel, History, Cinema,

and Music.

Akash Verma is a renowned thriller author and has authored six

books till now. National media have covered him in publications

such as The Pioneer, The Times of India, The Hindustan Times,

Financial World, The New Indian Express, The Hindu, and The Week

to name a few. He has also appeared at renowned literature fests

and interviews. His publisher is Penguin Random House, India.

 

Akash is a Science Graduate and holds a PGDBM degree. He is based

out of Gurgaon. Akash’s parents are eminent and awarded Hindi

writers.

 

Website : www.akash-verma.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Akash-Verma-...

Twitter: https://twitter.com/akashvermanow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akash_verma...

 

__________________________________________________________

 

Purchase Akash Verma's books from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CwkeJp

 

__________________________________________________________

Follow me on:-

 

My Blog:- http://www.writingbuddha.com/

 

Instagram:- https://www.instagram.com/writingbuddha/

 

Twitter:- https://twitter.com/WritingBuddha

 

Facebook:- https://www.facebook.com/WritingBuddha/

 

Youtube:- https://www.youtube.com/WritingBuddha/

Podcast 4 | Akash Verma on his creative side, relationships & multitasking | Part 1 (Video)

1957th BLOG POST

Hi Friends, it has been my dream to talk with great personalities and learn from it since last decade. I had many personal interactions with authors and other such personalities. But recently after knowing that something which was in mind has already taken shape in the digital world called as Podcast, I thought of starting the same with some great people whom I can bring on my platform and learn something from them and make it accessible with all of you, so that along with me, all of us can learn together.

 

In this Podcast, Akash Verma speaks on his books, his view on relationships, multi-tasking and his opinion on being too workaholic…

______________________________________________________________

 

Akash Verma is the co-founder of a fashion startup centered around Indian designs - www.chokore.com, and a national bestselling author. Akash has 24+ years of experience in FMCG and Media at senior levels with Coca-Cola, Red FM, Big FM, and TOI. Akash’s work has taken him across the world, and he finds this experience very relevant while giving shape to his stories. Akash practices Buddhism as a life philosophy and loves Travel, History, Cinema, and Music.

Akash Verma is a renowned thriller author and has authored six books till now. National media have covered him in publications such as The Pioneer, The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, Financial World, The New Indian Express, The Hindu, and The Week to name a few. He has also appeared at renowned literature fests and interviews. His publisher is Penguin Random House, India.

 

Akash is a Science Graduate and holds a PGDBM degree. He is based out of Gurgaon. Akash’s parents are eminent and awarded Hindi writers.

 

Website : www.akash-verma.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Akash-Verma-...

Twitter: https://twitter.com/akashvermanow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akash_verma...

 

__________________________________________________________

 

Purchase Akash Verma's books from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CwkeJp

 

__________________________________________________________

 

Follow me on:-

 

My Blog:- http://www.writingbuddha.com/

 

Instagram:- https://www.instagram.com/writingbuddha/

 

Twitter:- https://twitter.com/WritingBuddha

 

Facebook:- https://www.facebook.com/WritingBuddha/

 

Youtube:- https://www.youtube.com/WritingBuddha/

Mapping Love by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari (Book Review: 3.25*/5) !!!

1956th BLOG POST

27^th Book of 2021

 

Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari has already won our heart by creating great movies such as Nil Battey Sannata, Bareilly ki Barfi and Panga. I adore for the way she has created her own identity in the Hindi film industry through her work. It was a surprise when I got to know that she is releasing a book written by herself because generally, filmmakers take some time entering the world of literature as writing and working on a movie itself takes most of their energy. Her very first book named “Mapping Love” is published by Rupa Publications in around 187 pages.

 

You can surely finish this book in one or two sittings as it’s not a very long story but the way it moves insist on making you pause for some time before proceeding ahead. It has not happened for long with me with a book but this one really made me think a lot about my past decisions. The protagonist Oorja’s character is framed so deeply that you understand the kind of dilemma and trauma she is in. She is returning to India with lots of angst because her mother has died due to a mistake committed by her father. And over that, now her father is also no more – as he lost his life almost in the similar scenario. She is back in her grandfather’s home where she meets a boy named Anang who has taken care of everyone in her absence.

 

The emotions of a girl knowing that someone else has better tuning in her family than herself because of her absence can be felt throughout the story post-entry of Anang. The way she deals with him tells you how difficult it can get when you have failed multiple times in past relationships, but you must again decide if this one is okay to commit yourself in. Also, the way she thinks about Anang even after leaving the place makes you feel for her – a girl who is already in stress and confusion has only one hope of love – and she is surviving only on it. The way pre-climax makes us acquainted with a fact we were not expecting at all gives us a chair-jump as suddenly, it seems the book has shifted the gear and become one from thriller genre. Another such moment is when Police calls her for verifying a body. That scene is totally chilling and horrifying.

 

The poems as filler in between the story are so moving that you end up reading them 10 times before proceeding ahead. It gave me a little ZNMD movie kind of a feel but generally, I don’t like English poems, but some of the poems mentioned in this book makes your heart weep in love and hope. I also liked the philosophical take by the authoress throughout the story in almost every important section. Even when something is said which is quite general and common, her philosophical part uplifts the paragraph or chapter. Without the inclusion of it, this book must have lost 50% of its effectiveness.

 

Talking about the drawbacks now, I felt that author didn’t work much on characterizations. I couldn’t relate too much with anyone else other than Oorja. Even with her, you don’t get to know much about the important happenings in her past which can make us understand her completely. Secondly, the language used in the book is not very easy and you’ll find it very hard initially and if you are reading it with lot of gaps, it is going to trouble you each time while re-starting. Thirdly, the whole angle of Anang’s medical condition seems like a forced drafting as it doesn’t sound genuine at all. Even the whole thing is just informed to us rather than driving story on it for little longer.

 

Overall, this book is a fine read and it can gather mixed reviews based on everyone’s experiences in their own life and how they relate it with Oorja’s life. I give this book 3.25* out of 5. Please read to understand if it connects with you or not.

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE

 

Thanks.

 

WRITING BUDDHA 

5 Things I learnt from my Previous Boss/Entrepreneur | Completed 6th Work Anniversary today (Video)

1955th BLOG POST

I started working on 3rd August, 2015 and I complete my 6 years of work experience today. I am glad that somehow, I have managed to be securing job till now considering the kind of challenges I faced after I made the 1st switch of my career last year during the lockdown period.

 

But as I complete 6 years today, rather than remembering anything else, I was just reminiscing the accomplishments and failures in my first job which made me go through all the great conversations I had with my Boss who was also the founder of the company.

 

I am telling you that working under the Founder is an altogether different experience than working under a Manager. An Entrepreneur wants you to excel and become the best in the field because he behaves like a Leader whereas some Managers disappoint you with the Organizational politics, ego issue, competition, toxicity etc.

 

I have mentioned the 5 best lessons I learnt from my previous boss which I believe will benefit every new joinee or employee in their working lifestyle.

 

Please watch and let me know if you also find these 5 points beneficial or not.