Khantastic by Sanjukta Nandy (Book Review: 3.75*/5) !!!

1852nd BLOG POST 

20^th Book of 2020!

Reading books on Bollywood personalities becomes a different experience altogether as we come to know about the stories we are not aware of about the people we have adored on screen. And the motivation in our life comes only after reading the approach of the actors, directors and movie-makers behind the screen on how they worked and prepared for the same. There is no denying that for people who are born after 1980 feels a deep-connect with the Khan trio of Bollywood i.e. Salman Khan, Shahrukh Khan and Aamir Khan. They are someone who came and changed things for Bollywood and movie-lovers who knew nothing except Amitabh Bachchan at that point of time. They shall always have special place in heart for people who love movies. Hence, reading about them is always very exciting.

This book named “Khantastic” written by Sanjukta Nandy claims to be speaking about the untold story of Bollywood’s Trio in the 210 pages. It took me very less time to finish this book for obvious reasons as it was talking about the Superstars I grew up adoring and copying in my school and childhood days. Author has taken due care to make us feel the same we felt when these guys were coming up with their multiple movies in their 1^st and 2^nd decade respectively which has made them the star they are today. Even today if these Khans fail, they are and shall always be remembered as Success Stories due to what they did in their career’s first twenty years.

Author starts with the background of each of the family and tells how they are connected through the similar kind of roots. Then she discusses their birth story and finally about their childhood days. Each story is unique in itself of all the stars. I personally liked reading about Shahrukh Khan here as his struggles are very less known as he is an outsider and never generally speaks about his early life. Then author discusses how they got into the industry and the challenges faced by them then and how it all changed after they delivered their first hit so superbly. The way how their love stories are discussed is the best segment of the book. SRK-Gauri’s story is in fact so filmy that you would not believe that it’s a true love story at all. Similarly, Aamir-Reena’s story is fascinating in itself. The best part is how author has humorously written about Salman’s ever-changing girlfriends and his dynamics with them post relationship.

The book then discusses about their several films and how they got few roles which were either first discussed with some other actor or with one among them but how then they profited from it by coming in at the last minute and taking up the rejected role. Their biggest success in the 90s are discussed vastly along with their recent successes in the days of 100-200-300 crore clubs. Author also talks about the relationship of three Khans among themselves and how they have survived all the bad days when they didn’t get along and even fought publicly. All the controversies of Salman Khan are briefed without trying to white-wash him – her stance is similar with mentioning controversial events of Shahrukh and Aamir too. I liked author’s daring to pour everything she knew as it is without modifying facts pushing it on sources etc.

I liked how a chapter is almost dedicated to Hrithik Roshan on whose entry in 2000, there were talks and discussions that Khans’ careers would now be immensely affected and the new generation is up there. How it even got connected with the then political conditions was something I wasn’t aware about which author mentions very clearly. Without putting anyone down- Hrithik or the Three Khans, author does a great justice to that chapter.

Talking about the drawbacks, I would say that it is not the author’s fault but because media covers these stars so passionately that almost everything is known to the general public hence there weren’t many stories with her to reveal in this book as a Shock or Surprise hence there’s nothing which can be called as untold stories. Secondly, I felt that many important events from their life has been ignored which could have been given nice presentation in the book. Then, a book which talks about journey of actors must have their filmography in the end for readers to understand their career-graph which is missing. The total count of movies that each star has done should also have been discussed in some manner and their approach towards how many movies they like working on.

Saying it all, this is a light and entertaining book which tells you about the most talked-about Khans in our country. I give this book 3.75 stars out of 5.

Thanks.

WRITING BUDDHA 

Doctors - Our Last Hope!

1851st BLOG POST

Doctor! A professional that we wish we don’t get involved with. Haha! But, a word that also gives us the only hope. I had never been so much involved with Doctors than I had been in last 1-2 years due to multiple health issues that I suffered and lately my parents. The importance of a doctor is only understood when we meet one otherwise we take it quite casually considering that we can go all our life by ourselves without anyone’s support. In 2017, I had started facing an issue in office where up till lunch I used to be all okay but post lunch, suddenly, I would start facing breathing issues as well as severe headache. And it would make me so dizzy that working after that meant awaiting to die. Finally, one day I became so unwell that unlike my personality, I took an abrupt half-day and left for home. Traveling by local train was an itself a journey towards hell that day.

Someone gave us reference of a doctor who was an ENT specialist and when I went to him, he told me that I am suffering from Sinusitis. He gave me tablets which healed my problem instantly and I believed all is well. But the same thing kept repeating throughout next 3 years until the end of 2019 in the intervals of 2-3 months. Finally, I was referred to another Homeopathic doctor and he gave me assurance that it was treatable within 3-6 months of dosage. And yes, since then, the breathing issue got completely treated and I am enjoying my yoga and meditation experiences again. Now I feel what can I give as gift to both these doctors – the ENT specialist who gave me instant relaxation for 3 years whenever the problem occurred and the Homeopathic doctor who treated its root cause altogether.

Similarly, there was a time when I didn’t feel mentally charged and motivated during my Junior college days post which we consulted a psychologist. It was my 1^st experience to sit with a doctor who used to talk about my personal life and mindset. Whenever he talked with me, I would feel that something great is going to happen with me. He gave some tablets which turned out to be so effective that I was able to conquer my mind for some time and move ahead temporarily. Though the problem then got resolved with few gemstones etc. permanently. Or I believe so.

Recently, my father faced trouble with his blood pressure which really scared us as it happened during lockdown when no one among us wanted to go to any hospital in fear of Corona patients and the transmission of the virus. But finally, my father was admitted and I remember, how, hopefully, whenever the doctor came for rounds twice a day, I would stand out of the ICU awaiting to hear good and hopeful news from him. It is then that I realized again how important Doctors are to us. Finally, he improved many factors that caused my father visit hospital and get admitted and now things are back to normal – though my father is on dose.

And what should we say about dentists. Toothache is something which when happens makes us feel like killing anyone who irritates us during that period. Haha! It seems there is nothing that can be more troublesome than a toothache. And in my genes from mother I have received this as gift. Howsoever precautions and care I take, there will be some problem with these 32 guys once in 4-5 months. And though we feel so scared visiting a dentist, but once, you are out of their clinic, even when the tooth and jaw pains after immediate treatment, we still feel satisfied knowing that all shall be fine after few hours and we shall be able to chew and eat whatever we want without pain.

This Doctor Day, I ensured I message all my doctors and wish them the day when we appreciate their work and can let them know how important they are to us. Receiving a response from them feels so great. They are life saviours. In this wake of coronavirus, the only hope that this world have is with doctors. We are getting scared only because we know there are no beds available for corona patients which shall not allow us getting treated by them. Also, along with God, we are also praying and expecting some miracles from doctors in terms of getting vaccination for this at the earliest. Doctors are seen no less than God now and that is how important they are to us. The Last Hope!

I wish all the Doctors and nurses reading this a very Happy Doctor’s Day! Wish you keep spreading your positivity with us whenever we need you.

Thanks.

WRITING BUDDHA

Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta by Amish Tripathi (Book Review: 4.5*/5) !!!

1850th BLOG POST -->>

19^th Book of 2020!

It is such a wonderful feeling when you finish a book by your favorite author and also end up finding the book as one of his best works. I am just done reading “Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta” – the latest i.e. 3^rd book written in the Ram Chandra series by Amish Tripathi. The first two books in this series were based on the characters of Ram and Sita respectively which I have already reviewed. I had found Ram to be engrossing as Amish had redefined the story in his version but I wasn’t much impressed with Sita due to the repetitiveness in respect to Part 1. But talking about the latest book in the series which is based on Raavan, I must say that this is the best book among the three and something which is now making me look forward to the 4^th and 5^th book in this series curiously.

This book is also of almost the same number of pages as Ram and Sita but Amish’s writing in this one is what he is known for- great incidents, retelling of epics in his own way, giving religious insights, acknowledging the facts of Vedas, sharing Sanskrit shlokas and mantras in between, deciphering the philosophical aspect out of the scenes etc. Even when the book is of about 370+ pages but it never bores you with the way narration has been done with regular time-jumps to ensure only the special events from Raavan’s life are given big coverages. The description of events, aesthetic values in scenes and characterizations along with their correlation is done in a crisped manner which makes you imagine so much throughout that after finishing, you’ll feel you have just done watching something on screen. The action-packed scenes are just too good and I must say it is the USP of this book.

Raavan as a character has always been misunderstood by us who are aware about Ramayan but this book makes him so known to us but still kept unknown. Yes – that’s the way the story and character has been presented to us. Sometimes, you’ll find him genuine or barbaric or emotional or pitiful or justifying or non-dharmic or you might love him at times and detest otherwise. Raavan’s characterization by the author makes this book a landmark in Indian writing. Similarly, Kumbhakarna’s portrayal is something which wins your heart in each and every chapter.

Some points that I would like to mention which impressed me are as follows: - the importance of “108” number in India in the initial chapters itself which makes you excited to know many such stuffs further in the book. The whole description of Vaidyanath temple celebration made me feel the same ecstasy as Raavan. Recently, when I started getting involved in religious activities, I always wanted to understand why Lord Vishnu’s idol is made in black with such big eyes which is very well explained by Amish in a sequence of Jagannath temple. A scene where Raavan makes a little girl kill her father is speechless- I don’t know how to explain the impact of that scene on me as a reader. There’s one poetry that’s mentioned which has been written on the relationship of Sun and Earth – it’s so beautiful that I don’t even find such poetries in the Poetry collection books by the new-age authors. Raavan’s emotions for Vedavati and that whole big section which covers the major segment of this book is very beautiful- little Bollywood-ish but it keeps you glued. And talking about the climax of the book- IMPACTFUL! It makes you excited to read the further part eagerly.

Now talking about the drawbacks of the book:- Well, there is not much I could find out but I must say that the book has few scenes which are very violent. Hence, some people who can’t take it might feel uneasy while reading it. Secondly, not all characters are given equal weightage like Raavan and Kumbhakarna which makes the other characters almost negligible in this story. But this has also been a good point about this book that like every book written based on mythology and epics, this one doesn’t have too many characters to confuse the readers. Thirdly, I felt that the story is written in a manner which sounds quite modern whereas I feel that author should keep the aesthetics of the ancient India more alive while writing so that it keeps us connected with our roots – It shall be another benefit of reading such books.

Overall, this is one of the best works of Amish Tripathi for sure. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5 undoubtedly. Please do read it to experience an impactful story about Raavan – the biggest villain we ever had.

Thanks.

WRITING BUDDHA